Sept. 30, 2011
Tucker Intercollegiate 36-Hole Results
The 14th-ranked San Diego State men's golf team officially started its 2011 fall campaign by posting an 11-over 587 through 36 holes Friday at the 57th annual William H. Tucker Intercollegiate at the par-72, 7,562-yard University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M. The Aztecs, who are the reigning tournament champions, are currently in fourth place out of 16 squads, trailing day-one leader and fellow conference member UNLV (580) by seven strokes.
A year ago, SDSU overcame exactly the same seven-stroke margin heading into the final 18 holes to win the Tucker Intercollegiate after finishing second in their previous two trips. The victory was the first of seven for the Aztecs in 2010-11, and kicked off a record-breaking campaign.
On Friday, San Diego State senior J.J. Spaun (San Dimas, Calif.) rose eight spots on the individual leaderboard following the afternoon round after carding a 1-under 71, including two birdies, 15 pars and only one bogey. Spaun had 14 pars in his first 18 holes and is currently tied for sixth place with an even-par 144.
Aztec senior Alex Kang (Oak Park, Calif.) and freshman Wilson Bateman (Edmonton, Alberta) are both tied for 20th place at 4-over 148. Kang had the team's lowest score in the first round with a 72, highlighted by three birdies and a streak of eight consecutive pars. Bateman, meanwhile, carded an eagle on the 16th hole of his collegiate debut and had five birdies in the second round.
Sophomore Todd Baek (Auckland, New Zealand) is one stroke behind the duo with a 5-over 149 to tie for 29th place, while junior Tom Berry (New Haw, England) and senior Matt Hoffenberg (Simi Valley, Calif.), who is competing as an individual, are tied for 47th at 7-over 151.
Only five of the 96 competitors are under par through the 36 holes, including BYU's Zachary Blair, who leads the field by one stroke over second-place James Erkenbeck of New Mexico with a 5-under 139.
The Aztecs will be paired with Arizona, New Mexico and UNLV for Saturday's final 18 holes, beginning at 7:45 a.m. MT.
Scores with relation to par, Sept. 30, 2011, at the 57th William H. Tucker Intercollegiate, played at the par-72, 7,562-yard University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M.
Team Scoring (Top 6 of 16 teams)
1 UNLV 292-288-580 (+4)2 New Mexico 299-282-581 (+5)3 Arizona 295-291-586 (+10)4 San Diego State 295-292-587 (+11)5 North Texas 296-292-588 (+12) BYU 294-294-588 (+12)
Top Four Individuals (Top 4 of 96 players)1 Zachary Blair, BYU 69-70-139 (-5)2 James Erkenbeck, UNM 71-69-140 (-4)3 Derek Ernst, UNLV 69-73-142 (-2) Kyle Westmoreland, AFA 73-69-142 (-2)
San Diego StateT6 J.J. Spaun 73-71-144 (E)T20 Alex Kang 72-76-148 (+4)T20 Wilson Bateman 74-74-148 (+4)T29 Todd Baek 76-73-149 (+5)T47 Tom Berry 77-74-151 (+7)T47 Matt Hoffenberg* 78-73-151 (+7)
*=Competing as an individual