Aug. 3, 2006
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's golf program was rated 25th in the nation in Golf Digest's "Golf First" rankings as part of its second annual College Golf Guide, the magazine announced Wednesday. Golf Digest's "Golf First" rankings are designed to assist those high school players with aspirations of playing at the professional level after college by identifying the top schools which provide the best competition and facilities.
The publication employed a mathematical formula to rank the 772 NCAA member institutions which sponsor men's golf based on five criteria: a team's adjusted scoring average for the past four years, player growth while on the team, academics, climate and coaches/facilities. San Diego State was ranked among the top 10 percent in scoring average and climate and was rated in the top 20 percent in the coaches/facilities category. Overall, UCLA took the top spot followed by Georgia Tech, Pepperdine, Rollins, and Florida.
"It's a tremendous honor to receive this recognition," said SDSU head coach Ryan Donovan. "We feel we have a solid foundation in place here, and to be acknowledged in this fashion will certainly pay dividends for us in the future."
Coach Donovan, who is entering his fourth year at the helm of Aztecs, guided the scarlet and black to eight top-five tournament finishes during the 2005-06 campaign, including team titles at the Oregon Duck Invitational, Callaway Golf Invitational and The Club Glove Intercollegiate. SDSU also posted a runner-up finish at the Mountain West Conference tournament and made its eighth straight appearance at the NCAA West Regionals.
The Aztecs open the 2006-07 season next month when they depart for Fukushima, Japan, Sept. 2 to compete in the Topy Cup at Tanagura CC.