Oct. 9, 2006
LAS VEGAS - Following a two-week hiatus, the San Diego State men's golf team returned to action on Monday in style, completing the first two rounds alone in first place at the District 7 Fall Shootout at Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev. After jumping out to an early lead, the Aztecs finished the day in control of the leaderboard with an 18-under-par 550, opening up a 10-shot advantage over Mountain West Conference rival Colorado State, which carded an 8-under 560. Boise State (-6), Hawai'i (-3) and Denver (-2) rounded out the top five.
Once again junior Aaron Goldberg (Encinitas, Calif.) led the charge for SDSU, finishing the first 36 holes in second place out of 87 golfers after firing an 8-under 134. The La Costa Canyon High graduate posted a 5-under 66 in the afternoon following a 3-under 68 performance during the morning session. With his effort, Goldberg sits just three strokes in back of Boise State's Troy Merritt, who climbed from eighth into the top spot after shooting an amazing 9-under 62 during the second round.
Fellow classmates Chad Moscovic (Stockton, Calif.) and Jamie Puterbaugh (Carlsbad, Calif.) are also in contention after the first day of competition, as each carded a 4-under 138 to finish in a seven-way tie for eighth. Both players notched an Aztec career best for 18 holes during the second round. Moscovic fired a 3-under 68, while Puterbaugh matched Goldberg's feat with a 5-under 66.
Rounding out the SDSU contingent were seniors Chris Cole (Abergavenny, Wales) and Cory Segall (La Jolla, Calif.). In his first varsity action in almost a year, Cole tied for 16th, carding a collegiate-best 69 during the first round en route to a 2-under 140. Segall, meanwhile, shot a 2-over 144 in his 2006-07 debut.
Final round action at the District 7 Fall Shootout is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. PDT with a shotgun start.
District 7 Fall Shootout
At Las Vegas, Nev.
Angel Park Golf Club--Mountain Course
(6,722 yards, par 71)
Team Scores (Top 5) 1. San Diego State 279-271 - 550 2. Colorado State 283-277 - 560 3. Boise State 285-277 - 562 4. Hawai'i 284-281 - 565 5. Denver 289-277 - 566
Individual Scores (Top 3 + SDSU)1. Troy Merritt, Boise State 69-62 - 1312. Aaron Goldberg, SDSU 68-66 - 1343. Blake Trimble, UNLV 68-67 - 135T8. Jamie Puterbaugh, SDSU 72-66 - 138T8. Chad Moscovic, SDSU 70-68 - 138T16. Chris Cole, SDSU 69-71 - 140T40. Cory Segall, SDSU 72-72 - 144