Sept. 27, 2014
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Playing its second tournament of the week, the San Diego State men's golf team finished in third place at the William H. Tucker Invitational on Saturday with a 54-hole total of 9-over-par 873 at UNM Championship Course. The Aztecs, who were 7-under collectively entering the day, slipped one spot in the standings after their team score ballooned to 16-over 304 during the final-round on the par-72, 7,562-yard track.
Individually, Xander Schauffele (San Diego, Calif.) was SDSU's highest finisher at the 60th annual event, where he landed in the fourth position at 3-under 213. The Aztec senior found himself just one shot off the pace after the first two rounds, but fell out of contention after posting an uncharacteristic 77 over the final 18 holes. After carding just two combined bogeys on Friday, Schauffele was plagued by seven during the final round despite sinking four birdies. Still, the Scripps Ranch High alumnus managed to log his second straight top-five performance and 10th in a Scarlet and Black uniform.
Ricky DeSantis (Carlsbad, Calif.) was the only other SDSU player to finish among the top 20, jumping one spot into 11th with a 1-over 217. The Aztec sophomore registered his second straight 73, offsetting three bogeys and a double-bogey with four birdies, including a successful conversion at the par-5, 539-yard No. 1, his final hole of the afternoon.
On the flip side, Riccardo Michelini (Carpi, Italy) slipped one position into a tie for 25th after carding a 75 on Saturday. Despite a baker's dozen of pars, the SDSU junior drained just one birdie against four bogeys to complete the tournament at 6-over 222.
In addition, PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii) experienced a reversal of fortune as well, tumbling 16 places into the 28th position with a combined 7-over 223. Despite two birdies on his last three holes, The Aztec freshman was unable to recover from a back-to-back double-bogeys on Nos. 5-6 before settling for a 79.
Meanwhile, Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.) suffered a more precipitous drop, falling 24 spots into a tie for 42nd at 11-over 227 after carding an 82. The Aztec sophomore made eagle at the par-5 No. 1, his next-to-last hole, but it wasn't enough to ease the sting of eight bogeys and two double-bogeys on the day.
The SDSU delegation also included senior James Holley (San Diego, Calif.), who notched a 79 on Saturday to finish in a tie for 70th with a combined 18-over 234. With four players finishing in the top-10, including medalist Gavin Green, who became the tournament's first three-time winner, New Mexico (-15) cruised to the team title, while Texas Tech (E) finished a distant second.
Green completed the weekend with a combined 9-under 207 to secure a three-shot victory over the Texas Tech duo of Clement Sordet and Guillermo Pereira, who tied for the runner-up spot at 6-under 210.
San Diego State will now have over two weeks off before concluding its fall slate in the Bay Area at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational, scheduled for Oct. 13-14, in Fairfax, California.
William H. Tucker InvitationalFinal ResultsUNM Championship CourseAlbuquerque, N.M.Par 72, 7,562 yards
Team Scores (Top 5 of 15 teams)1. New Mexico 277-277-295--849 (-15)2. Texas Tech 283-288-293--864 (E)3. San Diego State 280-289-304--873 (+9)T4. TCU 300-294-286--880 (+16)T4. New Mexico State 295-286-299--880 (+16)
Individual Leaders (Top 6 of 92 players + SDSU)1. Gavin Green, New Mexico 65-70-72--207 (-9)T2. Clement Sordet, Texas Tech 67-71-72--210 (-6)T2. Guillermo Pereira, Texas Tech 68-70-72--210 (-6)4. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 67-69-77--213 (-3)T5. Paul Barjon, TCU 73-71-70--214 (-2)T5. Sam Saunders, New Mexico 72-68-74--214 (-2)----11. Ricky DeSantis, SDSU 71-73-73--217 (+1)T25. Riccardo Michelini, SDSU 72-75-75--222 (+6)T28. PJ Samiere, SDSU 71-73-79--223 (+7)T41. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU 71-74-82--227 (+11)T70. James Holley, SDSU* 78-77-79--234 (+18)
* - competed as an individual