Feb. 19, 2014
LA QUINTA, Calif. - The San Diego State men's golf team wrapped up its first tournament of the spring season on Wednesday, finishing in eighth place with collective 2-over par 854 at The Prestige at PGA WEST. The Aztecs slipped an additional three spots from Tuesday after shooting a 286 during the final round on the 7,070-yard, par-71 Greg Norman Resort Course.
SDSU's low score of the day belonged to Austin Kaiser (Atascadero, Calif.), who fired a collegiate-best 67 over the final 18 holes, highlighted by five birdies and just one bogey. With his effort, the Aztec senior jumped 13 places into a tie for the 52nd position at 9-over 221.
Fellow classmate Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.) also displayed upward mobility, vaulting six places into tie for 35th at 3-over 216 after carding a season-low 70. The Francis Parker High product offset a trio of bogeys with four birdies, including one on the 537-yard, par-5 No. 16, which played as the fifth-toughest hole on Wednesday.
However, the rest of the SDSU delegation was unable to replicate their two teammates' exploits. Freshman Ricky DeSantis (Carlsbad, Calif.) entered the day in a tie for second, but quickly fell out of contention after settling for a 78. After sinking 10 birdies during his first two rounds, the Carlsbad High alumnus suffered a reversal of fortune on Tuesday, carding six bogeys and a double-bogey, compared to just one birdie to tumble all the way into a tie for 28th at 2-over 215.
Likewise, junior Xander Schauffele (San Diego, Calif.) and sophomore Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy) both slipped into a tie for 43rd at 5-over 218. Schauffele recorded four bogeys over his first 10 holes, before sinking three birdies, including a pair on the 17th and 18th. However, the Scripps Ranch product suffered a double-bogey at 16, saddling him with his second straight 74.
Michelini, meanwhile, was unable to overcome the sting of four bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-3 13th, making just two birdies en route to a 75.
Stanford (-21) captured the team championship after holding off a hard-charging Washington squad (-19), followed by UCLA (-11) and LSU (-6), while Texas Tech (E) and Arizona State (E) tied for the fifth spot. The Cardinal also boasted the individual winner as Patrick Rodgers (-9) edged Arizona State's Max Rottluff (-8) by one shot.
SDSU returns to the course next week when it competes in the Jones Invitational, hosted by Pepperdine, Feb. 24-25, at Saticoy Country Club, in Somis, Calif.
The Prestige at PGA WESTGreg Norman CourseLa Quinta, Calif.Par 71, 7,070 yardsFinal Results
Team Results (Top 6 of 12 schools + SDSU)1. Stanford 269-280-282--831 (-21)2. Washington 286-277-270--833 (-19)3. UCLA 282-286-273--841 (-11)4. LSU 286-281-279--846 (-6)T5. Texas Tech 292-282-278--852 (E)T5. Arizona State 290-290-272--852 (E)---8. San Diego State 280-288-286--854 (+2)
Individual Results (Top 6 of 71 players + SDSU)1. Patrick Rodgers, Stanford 65-68-71--204 (-9)2. Max Rottluff, Arizona State 69-69-67--205 (-8)3. Gerrit Chambers, Washington 74-66-66--206 (-7)T4. Trevor Smiley, Washington 72-71-64--207(-6)T4. Curtis Thompson, LSU 68-71-68--207 (-6)T4. Cameron Wilson, Stanford 68-70-69--207 (-6)----T28. Ricky DeSantis, SDSU 68-69-78--215 (+2)T34. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU 71-75-70--216 (+3)T43. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU 71-72-75--218 (+5)T43. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 70-74-74--218 (+5)T52. Austin Kaiser, SDSU 81-73-67--221 (+9)