April 26, 2008
TUCSON, Ariz. -
Final Tournament Results in PDF Format
San Diego State's Aaron Goldberg (Encinitas, Calif.) fired a 1-under-par 70 on Saturday to pace the Aztec men's golf team during the final round of MWC Championships at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort. With his score, the SDSU senior finished the tournament in a three-way tie for second with a combined 1-under 212 at the 7,136-yard, par-71 Catalina Course. The Aztecs shot the second-lowest team score of the day, shaving 10 strokes off their total from Friday en route to a final-round 2-over 286. Despite the late flurry, the Scarlet and Black was unable to move up in the standings, settling for seventh place with a collective 19-over 871.
After stumbling to an atypical 75 on Friday, Goldberg displayed his trademark consistency over the final 18 holes, notching two birdies with just one bogey to vault five places into the runner-up position along with Colorado State's Riley Arp and Robbie Fillmore of Brigham Young. With his effort, Goldberg landed in the top five for the sixth time in 13 events this season en route to tying his highest finish of the year. UNLV's Eddie Olson held on to his second-round lead, shooting a final-round 70 to walk away with medalist honors at 4-under 209.
Freshman Matt Hoffenberg (Simi Valley, Calif.) also showed dramatic improvement on Saturday, trimming four shots off his second-round score to finish the day at even- par 71. With his round, the Aztec lefty climbed six spots into a tie for 26th at 7-over 220. Fellow classmate Johan Carlsson, who tied for second among the 45-golfer field with 11 birdies for the tournament, had his putter working once again during the final round as the Gothenburg, Sweden, native added four more circles to his scorecard en route a 1-over 72. Despite three bogeys and a double-bogey, Carlsson still managed his eighth top-20 showing in 13 starts this year after finishing in a tie for 14th at 3-over 216.
Meanwhile, junior David Palm completed the scoring for the Scarlet and Black as the Landvetter, Sweden, product tied for the 38th position with a combined 13-over 226. Palm played bogey-free golf over his final 13 holes to finish the day with a 2-over 73.
Colorado State was the only team to break par on Saturday, shooting a final-round 4-under 278 to finish the championships at 2-under 850, vaulting over second-round leaders TCU (+2) and Brigham Young (+5) for the team title. Meanwhile, UNLV (+7) and Utah (+16) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Following the tournament, the league announced its 2008 all-Mountain West Conference men's golf team and individual awards. SDSU captured both the individual honors as Aaron Goldberg was named MWC golfer of the year, while Matt Hoffenberg was voted the league's freshman of the year. Saturday's selections marked just the second time in the nine-year history of the MWC that two individual honorees came from the same school. In 2005, UNLV's Ryan Moore was recognized as the conference's top player, while teammate Jarred Texter received freshman of the year accolades.
Goldberg ranked second in the MWC and 42nd nationally, according to the most recent GolfWeek rankings, with a 71.11 stroke average. He recorded nine finishes within the top-10 in 2007-08 and is a three-time all-conference performer. The La Costa Canyon High alumnus is also the third Aztec to garner conference's top honor after Lars Johansson (2001) and John Lieber (2002).
Hoffenberg, meanwhile, garnered freshman of the year honors after posting a 71.75 stroke average this season, which currently ranks third in the MWC and 66th nationally. He logged four top 10 finishes this season and is the first MWC freshman of the year honoree to don the Scarlet and Black.
Also earning a spot on the all-MWC squad was David Palm, who currently holds a 72.91 stroke average. Palm enjoyed a successful return to the lineup during the 2007-08 campaign, posting three top-10 finishes after undergoing back surgery last season. The all-league recognition was the second for Palm, who garnered second-team all-Southern Conference accolades while capturing freshmen of the year honors at Georgia Southern in 2005. Along with Goldberg and Hoffenberg, Palm's selection gave SDSU three all-MWC golfers for the first time in the same season since the league's inception in 1999-2000.
San Diego State, winners of three tournaments this season and ranked in or around the top 40 for most of the spring, is expected to receive its 10th straight NCAA regional bid on Monday, May 5, when the Regional Advisory Committee announces the pairings for this year's three regional tournaments.
MWC Championships At Tucson, Ariz. Tucson National Golf Resort - Catalina Course (7,136 yards, par 71)
Final Team Standings1. Colorado State 288-284-278 - 850 (-2)2. TCU 283-281-284 - 854 (+2)3. Brigham Young 286-278-293 - 857 (+5)4. UNLV 281-286-292 - 859 (+7)5. Utah 288-290-288 - 866 (+14)6. New Mexico 296-284-288 - 868 (+16)7. San Diego State 289-296-286 - 871 (+19)8. Wyoming 299-295-294 - 888 (+36)9. Air Force 305-291-294 - 890 (+38)
Final Individual Leaders (Top 7 + SDSU)1. Eddie Olson, UNLV 70-69-70 - 209 (-4)T2. Aaron Goldberg, SDSU 67-75-70 - 212 (-1)T2. Riley Arp, Colorado State 71-71-70 - 212 (-1)T2. Robbie Fillmore, Brigham Young 72-69-71 - 212 (-1)T5. Dustin Morris, Colorado State 73-70-70 - 213 (E)T5. Robby Ormand, TCU 73-67-73 - 213 (E)T5. James Sacheck, TCU 72-70-71 - 213 (E)T14. Johan Carlsson, SDSU 71-73-72 - 216 (+3)T26. Matt Hoffenberg, SDSU 74-75-71 - 220 (+7)T38. David Palm, SDSU 77-76-73 - 226 (+13)T41. Chad Moscovic, SDSU 77-73-78 - 228 (+15)
2007-08 MWC Men's Golf Awards
Golfer of the YearAaron Goldberg, Sr., San Diego State
Freshman of the YearMatt Hoffenberg, San Diego State
Coach of the YearJamie Bermel, Colorado State
All-Conference TeamRobbie Fillmore, So., BYUBryce Hanstad, So., Colorado StateDustin Morris, So., Colorado StateAaron Goldberg, Sr., San Diego StateMatt Hoffenberg, Fr., San Diego StateDavid Palm, Jr., San Diego StateSeung-su Han, Jr., UNLVMatt Kinsinger, Sr., UNLVEddie Olson, So., UNLVFranklin Corpening, Sr., TCU