SDSU Defeats Alabama, 3-2, to Take Fifth at JTS Cup

ROLAND, Ark. -- The San Diego State men's golf team defeated Alabama, 3-2, in match play to finish in fifth place Wednesday at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at The Alotian Golf Club in Roland, Arkansas. Playing on the par-72, 7,396-yard course, the Aztecs received match-play victories from freshmen Jack Townsend (San Diego/Charter School of San Diego) and Shae Lague (Jamul, Calif./Steele Canyon HS), and senior Youssef Guezzale (San Diego/La Jolla HS).
 
SDSU finished sixth in the stroke play competition, which was conducted over three rounds on Monday and Tuesday, but posted the lowest round of the day at 5-under 283 on Tuesday.
 
Senior Steve Sugimoto (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS) got things started for San Diego State against Crimson Tide's JP Cave. Sugimoto was three shots back just four holes in but rallied to tie it up by the par-5 eighth hole and was up by two holes by the par-4 10th. Cave, however, won the par-3 11th, par-5 14th and the par-4 15th to take back the lead. A Sugimoto par on the par-3 16th tied it up once again, but Cave birdied the par-5 17th and recorded a par on the par-4 18th to finish 1up over Sugimoto and give Alabama its first team point.
 
Townsend, however, made short work of Tyler Lipscomb in the second match with a dominating 6&4 win. Townsend won the first two holes, then after each player parred the par-4 third, captured the par-3 fourth, par-4 fifth and par-3 sixth to take a commanding 5up lead through six holes. Lipscomb got one back on the eighth before Townsend won the par-4 ninth to lead 5up at the turn. Each player birdied No. 10 and Lipscomb's par on No. 11 was good enough to win the hole. Townsend captured the par-4 12th, and following pars by both player on the par-4 13th, clinched the 6&4 victory with a birdie on No. 14.
 
Guezzale, meanwhile, downed Thomas Ponder, 3&2, in the third match. Guezzale lost the opening par-5 first on a Ponder birdie and tied the par-4 second with a par. He then won five consecutive holes on three straight birdies, a par on No. 6 and another birdie on the par-4 seventh to take a 4-up lead through seven holes. Ponder won both No. 8 and No. 9 to claw into Guezzale's lead at the turn. Guezzale's birdie won the 10th but Ponder responded with a birdie of his own to win No. 11. Guezzale sank a birdie on No. 12 and led by three holes. Ponder got one back with a birdie on No. 14 but would get no closer as Guezzale sealed the 3&2 victory with a par on No. 16. In all, Guezzale had six birdies on the day (16 holes).
 
Lague edged out Dillon West, 2&1, in what would be the deciding match. Lague was down twice early (first and third holes) but captured No. 2 and the par-4 third with pars to tie it up. He took the lead with a par on No. 5 and wouldn't trail the rest of the way. Lague led by as many as three thanks to a birdie on the par-5 seventh and again on the 10th. West closed the gap to one hole with a birdie on No. 11 and a par on No. 12 before Lague took No. 13 with a par. West won No. 14 with a birdie but Lague went back to 2up when his bogey was good enough to win No. 16. Each player parred No. 17, clinching Lague's 2&1 victory and the Aztecs' 3-2 triumph over the Crimson Tide.
 
In the final match of the day, senior Joey Moore (Billings, Mont.) fell to Canon Claycomb, 4&3. Claycomb led wire-to-wire in the match for Alabama's second win of the match.
 
No. 14 Notre Dame, which won the stroke play of the competition by 20 shots at 8-under 856, beat No. 2 Arkansas in the championship, 4-1, while No. 39 Arizona downed Florida State, 3-1-1, in the third-place match.
 
Jackson T. Stephens Cup
Roland, Ark.
Day Three Results (Match Play)
The Alotian Golf Club
Par 72, 7,396 yards
 
Team Results
First Place: No. 14 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Arkansas, 4-1
Third Place: No. 39 Arizona def. Florida State, 3-1-1
Fifth Place: San Diego State def. Alabama, 3-2
 
Fifth Place Results
JP Cave (Alabama) def. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State), 1up
Jack Townsend (San Diego State) def. Tyler Lipscomb (Alabama), 6&4
Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State) def. Thomas Ponder (Alabama), 3&2
Shea Lague (San Diego State) def. Dillon West (Alabama), 2&1
Canon Claycomb (Alabama) def. Joey Moore (San Diego State), 4&3