April 11, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. - The San Diego State men's golf team finished in a tie for second place at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational Saturday at the 7, 057-yard, par-71 Karsen Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz. Senior Ryan Citarella paced the Aztecs to their runner up finish, finishing the tournament in a tie for seventh place on the individual leaderboad.
Arizona State shot a 14-under 838 to claim the team medal. The Sun Devils were led by Stephen Gross, who shared the individual medalist honors with New Mexico's Steve Saunders. The pair tied for first at 3-under 210.
Citarella led all Aztecs at the event after recording a 1-under par total, equaling his lowest three-round score in relation to par of the 2008-09 season. His seventh place tie on the final leaderboard is also his best this spring and equals his Aztec best. The Santa Ana, Calif. product posted rounds of 65-76-71 (212) en route to his lowest 54-hole total with the Scarlet and Black.
Classmate Bryan Martin moved up two places in the final standings with his final round 1-over 72. The Thousand Oaks, Calif. native fired three consecutive rounds of 1-over 72 for a 3-over 54-hole total. Martin finished Saturday play in a tie for 25th position.
Sophomore Johan Carlsson (Gothenburg, Sweden) fired a 1-under 70 over the final 18-holes to wrap up the invitational with a 4-over 217 total. Carlsson improved 18 places on the final leaderboard to conclude the event in a tie for 32nd position.
Sophomore Matt Hoffenberg opened up the invitational with an even-par 71 in the morning round. The Simi Valley, Calif. native finished the second 18 holes with a 4-over 75, placing him in a tie for 42nd place going into the third round.
SDSU freshman Colin Featherstone made the biggest improvement on day two. The Fallbrook, Calif. product improved 33 positions on the individual leaderboard with his 3-under par 68 performance over the final 18 holes. Featherstone finished with a 219 54-hole total.
Rounding out he scoring for SDSU was sophomore Matt Hoffenberg. The Simi Valley, Calif. carded a 5-over 76 in the final round to conclude tournament play in a tie for 53rd position.
Competing as an individual for the Scarlet and Black was Andrew Cooley, who shot a third-round 72, putting himself in a tie with Hoffenberg. Cooley (New Haw, Surrey, England) improved six spots in the final standings and record a 220 three-round total.
San Diego State SDSU will have one final tune-up before heading to the Mountain West Conference Championships. The Aztecs will head to the Lone Star State to compete at the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational, April 18-19, at the par 72, 7,235 yard Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas.
37th Annual ASU Thunderbird Invitational
Karsten Golf Course (Par 71, 7,057 yards)
April 11, 2009 - Tempe, Ariz.
Top Five Teams
1. Arizona State 272-287-279 - 838 (-14)
T2. San Diego State 275-300-281 - 856 (+4)
T2. Denver 284-282-290 - 856 (+4)
4. Texas Christian 280-290-287 - 857 (+5)
T5. UC Irvine 283-290-285 - 858 (+6)
T5. Arizona 292-290-276 - 858 (+6)
Top Five Individuals and SDSU
T1. Stephan Gross (Arizona State) 69-70-71 - 210 (-3)
T1. Steve Saunders (New Mexico) 69-73-68 - 210 (-3)
T3. Knut Borsheim (Arizona State) 68-71-72 - 211 (-2)
T3. Daniel Miernicki (Oregon) 68-75-68 - 211 (-2)
T3. Scott Pinckney (Arizona State) 67-71-73 - 211 (-2)
T3. Rich Saferian (Arizona) 70-75-66 - 211 (-2)
T7. Ryan Citarella (SDSU) 65-76-71 - 212 (-1)
T25. Bryan Martin (SDSU) 72-72-72 - 216 (+3)
T32. Johan Carlsson (SDSU) 67-80-70 - 217 (+4)
T46. Colin Featherstone (SDSU) 72-79-68 - 219 (+6)
T53. Matt Hoffenberg (SDSU) 71-75-76 - 220 (+7)
T53. Andrew Cooley (SDSU)* 72-76-72 - 220 (+7)
* indicates player is participating as an individual