June 21, 2005
SAN DIEGO - Three San Diego State men's golfers have qualified for next month's 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio, July 11-16. Senior Andrew Scott (Henderson, Nev.) and sophomore Aaron Goldberg (Encinitas, Calif.) both advanced after winning sectional tournaments, while recent standout Gilberto Rodriguez (Tijuana, Mexico) will compete after originally qualifying as an alternate.
Scott beat Rodriguez by three strokes at the USGA public links qualifier at the Black Mountain Golf & Country Club in Henderson, Nev., June 14-15. A 2004-05 all-conference selection, Scott carded a 36-hole score of 11-under 133, firing a 67 in the final round, including birdies on two of the final three holes. Rodriguez, who completed his collegiate eligibility earlier this month, actually led the 43-golfer field by one stroke after an opening round 65, but ended with a 71 for an 8-under 136.
Goldberg, meanwhile, earned one of three spots at the qualifier in Santee, Calif., at the Carlton Oaks Country Club, June 13-14. The La Costa Canyon High School graduate ended up tied with Nathan Schenz-Davis with a two-round score of 141, and was one stroke better than Kevin Kim, who was third with a 142.
Goldberg and Aztec teammate Josh Warthen (Pismo Beach, Calif.) are currently competing at the 94th California Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif. Goldberg tallied a first-round 74, while Warthen was one stroke off the lead with a 68 on the par-72, 6,833-yard course.
The 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship will take place at the Shaker Run Golf Course in Lebanon, Ohio, located midway between Dayton and Cincinnati. The first two days will consist of stroke play with the low 64 scorers going on to match play starting Wednesday. The championship culminates Saturday with 36 holes of match play with the winner historically earning an invitation to the next Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga.
The men's amateur public links is open to male amateur golfers who since Jan. 1 of that calendar year, have been public course players and have not held privileges at any course that does not extend playing privileges to the general public. Previous champions of the men's amateur public links include former UNLV standout Ryan Moore (2004, 2002).