March 18, 2008
Complete Results in PDF format
LAKESIDE, Calif. - The San Diego State men's golf team saved its best for last on Tuesday, posting a spring-low 15-under-par 273 during the final round of the Barona Collegiate Cup at the 7,393, par-72 Barona Creek Golf Club. Playing in its third home tournament of the season, the Aztecs took control of second place in the team standings after finishing with a combined 17-under 847 at the seventh annual event. Texas A&M (-37) comfortably led the 12-team field wire-to-wire, while San Diego (-13) settled for third, followed by Oklahoma State (-11) and SMU (-4).
Individually, junior David Palm carded a 3-under 69 to tie for the runner-up spot with Texas A&M's Andrea Pavan at 9-under 207, just three shots in back of another Aggie golfer, Nacho Elvira, who took home medalist honors. Palm entered the day with a share of the lead, but was unable to keep pace with Elvira despite sinking four birdies on the back nine. Still, the Landvetter, Sweden, native notched his highest finish of the year and second-best as an Aztec since winning the Club Glove Intercollegiate in the fall of 2005.
Senior Aaron Goldberg made a charge up the leaderboard on Tuesday, climbing three spots into a tie for sixth at 7-under 209. The La Costa Canyon High alumnus equaled his second-best round of the spring after draining five birdies over the final 18 holes en route to a 5-under 67. With a bogey-free scorecard in hand, Goldberg recorded his fifth straight top-seven finish and also produced his team-leading ninth round in the 60s this season.
The biggest jump of the day, however, belonged to freshman Matt Hoffenberg, who vaulted into the 17th position at 1-under 215 after completing play on Monday in a tie for 43rd. Despite an illness, the Simi Valley, Calif., product got off to a blistering start, notching six birdies over his first 10 holes to go along with an eagle at No. 17 en route to a 7-under 65. With his performance, Hoffenberg posted a tournament and collegiate best and is now tied for third on SDSU's all-time list for lowest 18-hole score.
Rounding out the scoring for the Scarlet and Black was another freshman, Johan Carlsson (Gothenburg, Sweden), who fired an even-par 72 during the final round to finish in a tie for 30th with a combined 3-over 219.
San Diego State returns to the fairways next week when it travels to the Pacific Northwest to compete in the Oregon Duck Invitational, March 24-25, in Creswell, Ore.
Barona Collegiate Cup At Lakeside, Calif. Barona Creek Golf Club (7,393 yards, par 72)
Final Team Standings1. Texas A&M 277-279-271 - 827 (-37)2. San Diego State 288-286-273 - 847 (-17)3. San Diego 280-292-279 - 851 (-13)4. Oklahoma State 289-287-277 - 853 (-11)5. SMU 291-283-286 - 860 (-4)6. Wichita State 289-289-861 - 861 (-3)7. Nevada 298-283-283 - 864 (E)8. Arizona 297-285-287 - 869 (+5)9. Illinois 299-288-287 - 874 (+10)10. Denver 300-296-290 - 886 (+22)11. Oklahoma 292-298-298 - 888 (+24)12. Coastal Carolina 294-298-304 - 896 (+32)
Individual Finishers (Top 9 + SDSU)1. Nacho Elvira, Texas A&M 67-71-66 - 204 (-12)T2. David Palm, SDSU 71-67-69 - 207 (-9)T2. Andrea Pavan, Texas A&M 68-70-69 - 207 (-9)T4. Ryan Spears, Wichita State 70-70-68 - 208 (-8)T4. Bronson Burgoon, Texas A&M 71-69-68 - 208 (-8)T6. Aaron Goldberg, SDSU 70-72-67 - 209 (-7)T6. Robert Gates, Texas A&M 71-69-69 - 209 (-7)T8. Rickie Fowler, Oklahoma State 71-73-67 - 211 (-5)T8. Creighton Honeck, Arizona 71-69-71 - 211 (-5)T17. Matt Hoffenberg, SDSU 73-77-65 - 215 (-1)T30. Johan Carlsson, SDSU 74-73-72 - 219 (+3)T47. Chad Moscovic, SDSU 77-74-75 - 226 (+10)