May 17, 2003
AUBURN, Wash. - The San Diego State men's golf team is returning to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1999.
The Aztecs fired a 291 on Saturday to secure a ninth-place finish in the NCAA West Regional in Auburn, Wash. The top 10 teams in the 27-team field advance to the national-championship tournament May 27th-30th in Stillwater, Okla. UCLA won the regional with a total of 864.
"A year ago we started strong and went downhill the final two days and missed a trip to the NCAA Tournament by a stroke," said Aztec head coach Dale Walker. "I am really proud of this team. We opened poorly on Thursday in difficult conditions and fought our way back. We've been waiting for this regional for a year."
In 2002, SDSU finished the tournament in a tie for the 10th and final spot and lost to Texas Tech in a playoff.
San Diego State's 291 on Saturday was its best round of the tournament after it opened with scores of 302 and 292. The Aztecs' three-day total of 885 was good enough to tie Oregon for ninth and hold off UTEP by one shot and UC Irvine by four strokes.
Brian Miller was the steadiest Aztec in the event. He posted a three-day total of (70-74-73) of 217 to secure a top 20 finish.
The return to the NCAA Championship is the second for San Diego State since the men's golf program was reinstated in 1994.
The Aztecs will join Mountain West Conference mates UNLV and New Mexico in the national championship tournament. UNLV finished third and New Mexico fifth in the event.
Team Scores (NCAA Championship Qualifiers): UCLA 864, Arizona 865, UNLV 871, Georgia 871, Arizona State 879, New Mexico 879, Washington 880, Southern California 880, Oregon 885, San Diego State 885.
SDSU Individuals
Brian Miller 70-74-73-217 (+1)
Mark Warman 76-72-70-218 (+2)
Aaron Choi 76-75-78-229 (+13)
John Lieber 87-71-73-231 (+15)
Lars Johansson 80-79-75-234 (+18)