Fresno State Lexus Classic: SDSU repeats
FRESNO, Calif. (March 11, 2008)-- Buoyed by a trio of top-10 individual finishes, the San Diego State men's golf team captured its second event title of the season on Tuesday at the Fresno State Lexus Classic. The Aztecs shot a combined 23-under-par 841 for the tournament, outlasting Texas (-20) and California (-20) by just three strokes at the 6,729-yard, par-72 Fort Washington Country Club. With the victory, SDSU successfully defended its team championship at the Lexus Classic from a year ago and marked just the second time since 2000 that the Scarlet and Black won the same tournament in consecutive years.
The race for medalist honors was even more dramatic as freshman Matt Hoffenberg and Charlie Holland of Texas completed regulation in a tie atop the individual leaderboard at 9-under 207. Hoffenberg was the only Aztec to shoot in red figures on Tuesday, recording just one bogey en route to a 2-under 70. Trailing by just three strokes heading into the final round, the Simi Valley, Calif., native remained close and actually took a two-shot lead after draining consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes. However, Holland, who was playing one group in back, pulled even after sinking two birdies of his own on holes 15-16. The two golfers then carded pars the rest of the way to set up a playoff where the Longhorn sophomore prevailed on the third sudden-death hole. Despite the disappointment, Hoffenberg posted his lowest score as a collegian, while also notching SDSU's best individual finish of the season.
Meanwhile, David Palm (Landvetter, Sweden), who entered the final round just two shots off the pace, fell out of contention on Tuesday after struggling out of the gate with five bogeys on the front nine en route to a 3-over 75. Still, the Aztec junior managed his second-best finish of the season after completing the tournament at 5-under 211 to tie for sixth place along with five other golfers. Included in that logjam was senior Aaron Goldberg, who also had designs on the top prize himself after lurking five strokes behind at the conclusion of play on Monday. However, the Encinitas, Calif., product had three birdies offset by a trio of bogeys during the final round and wound up settling for an even-par 72.
The Scarlet and Black also received a top-20 finish from freshman Johan Carlsson (Gothenburg, Sweden), who tied for the 15th spot with a combined 3-under 213 after carding a 73 over the final 18 holes. Senior Chad Moscovic's final round also counted toward the team score as the Stockton, Calif., native shot his third straight 74 to tie for the 66th position at 6-over 222.
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ABOUT THE
Nick Watney Collegiate
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
Fresno State University. Team (best four scores out of
five players each round) and individual competitions.
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