Sept. 9, 2006
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's golf team opened its 2006-07 season earlier this week, finishing in a tie for sixth place at the 24th Annual Topy Cup in Fukushima, Japan. The Aztecs completed the three-day tournament shooting a total of 22-over-par 886 at the 7,127-yard, par-72 Tanagura Country Club. The Japanese school Tohoku Fukushi tallied a 3-under-par 861 to claim the team title by eight strokes over second-place finishers Arizona State and Kentucky.
After firing a dreary 14-over 302 in the opening round, SDSU rallied on the second day with a 1-under 287 to jump from 10th to seventh in the team standings. The Aztecs, however, could not generate the same momentum on the final day of competition, climbing only one spot to tie Japan's Nihon University for the sixth position.
SDSU was led by the steady play of junior Aaron Goldberg, who concluded the tournament in red figures with a 3-under 213. The Encinitas, Calif., native sank four birdies during the final round to finish in a four-way tie for third, three strokes behind the individual champion Daisuke Yasumoto of Tohoku Fukushi.
Junior Jamie Puterbaugh was the Aztecs' second finisher, tying for 18th with a 5-over 221. The Carlsbad, Calif., product was the only other SDSU golfer to break par, carding a 1-under 71 during the second round. Right behind Puterbaugh was senior John Gray (Vista, Calif.), who fired an even-par 72 on the second day en route to an 8-over 224.
Rounding out the Aztec contingent was senior Jason Puterbaugh (Carlsbad, Calif.), who finished in 42nd with a 16-over 232, while junior Chad Moscovic (Stockton, Calif.) tied for 44th after posting an 18-over 234.
SDSU will have the next two weeks off before traveling to the Pacific Northwest, Sept 25-26, to compete in the Opus Northwest Husky Invitational at Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Wash.
2006 Topy Cup At Fukushima, Japan Tanagura CC (7,127 yards, par 72)
Team Scores1. Tohoku Fukushi 295-288-278 - 8612. Arizona State 289-283-297 - 8692. Kentucky 297-283-289 - 8694. Central Florida 296-291-288 - 8755. Nagoya Commerce 294-294-296 - 8846. San Diego State 302-287-297 - 8866. Nihon 290-293-303 - 8868. Chuo Gaukin 295-296-305 - 8969. Senshu 301-304-296 - 90110. Waseda 301-302-302 - 905
Individual Scores (Top 5 + SDSU)1. Daisuke Yasumoto, Tohoku Fukushi 74-69-67 - 2102. Niklas Lemke, Arizona State 69-68-75 - 2123. Aaron Goldberg, SDSU 71-71-71 - 2133. Brad Doster, Kentucky 71-67-75 - 2133. Toru Nakajima, Waseda 73-70-70 - 2133. Masatsugu Fujishima, Tohoku Fukushi 75-69-69 - 213T18. Jamie Puterbaugh, SDSU 76-71-74 - 221T28. John Gray, SDSU 77-72-75 - 22442. Jason Puterbaugh, SDSU 78-77-77 - 232T44. Chad Moscovic, SDSU 79-73-82 - 234