Feb. 26, 2013
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. - The San Diego State men's golf team maintained its fifth-place standing on Tuesday during the final round of the North Ranch Intercollegiate in Westlake Village, Calif. The Aztecs carded a 19-over par 303 to finish the 35th annual tournament with a collective 36-over 888 on the par-71, 6-753-yard North Ranch Country Club.
Three of SDSU's starting five golfers placed among the top 15 on the individual leaderboard, including freshman Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy), who fired a 2-over 73 on Tuesday to tie for seventh at 5-over 218. Michelini, who led the tournament with 38 pars, climbed six places over the final 18 holes to finish seven shots behind medalist Yi Keun Chang (-2) of team champion USC.
In addition, senior Tom Berry (New Haw, Surrey, England) and junior Austin Kaiser (Atscadero, Calif.) jumped eight spots into an logjam for 15th place with nine other players after each carded a final-round 76 to finish at 10-over 223. Berry made eagle on the par-5 12th hole, but was unable to overcome four bogeys down the stretch, while junior James Holley (Chatsworth, Calif.) experienced an similar fate on the back nine of his round, tying for the 26th position after recording a 78 to finish at 11-over 224. Elsewhere, sophomore Xander Schauffele (San Diego, Calif.) wound up in the 51st spot at 20-over 223 after posting a 79 over the final 18 holes.
SDSU's best score of the day was turned in by freshman Robert Gojuangco (San Diego, Calif.), an individual competitor who tied for 15th with Berry and Kaiser at 10-over 223 after finishing with a final-round 1-over 72, highlighted by four birdies. Meanwhile, fellow classmate Kevin Ko (Coquitlam, British Columbia), another individual participant, tied for the 30th slot at 13-over 226 after posting an 82 on Tuesday.
USC (+11) emerged with the team title, finishing nine strokes ahead of runner-up Brigham Young (+20), while Pepperdine (+23), Liberty (+29) and the Aztecs (+36) rounded out the top five.
SDSU will have a week off before returning to action, March 11-12, for the San Diego Intercollegiate Classic at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif.
North Ranch IntercollegiateFinal ResultsNorth Ranch C.C.Westlake Village, Calif.Par-71, 6,753 yards
Team Scores (Top 5)1. USC 285-279-299--863 (+11)2. Brigham Young 283-291-298--872 (+20)3. Pepperdine 292-282-301--875 (+23)4. Liberty 285-295-301--881 (+29)5. San Diego State 294-291-303--888 (+36)
Individual Leaders (Top 6 + SDSU)1. Yi Keun Chang, USC 70-68-73--211 (-2)2. Zachary Blair, Brigham Young 70-71-71--212 (-1)3. Chase Marinell, Liberty 68-74-71--213 (E)T4. Jordan Hammer, Brigham Young 69-74-73--216 (+3)T4. Sam Smith, USC 65-71-80--216 (+3)T4. Frederick Wedel, Pepperdine 74-68-74--216 (+3)----T7. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU 74-71-73--218 (+5)T15. Robert Gojuangco, SDSU* 74-77-72--223 (+10)T15. Austin Kaiser, SDSU 74-73-76--223 (+10)T15. Tom Berry, SDSU 73-74-76--223 (+10)T26. James Holley, SDSU 73-73-78--224 (+11)T30. Kevin Ko, SDSU* 73-71-82--226 (+13)51. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 77-77-79--233 (+20)
*-competed as an individual