The Aztecs men’s golf team completed its first objective Friday,defeating 19 teams to win the John Burns Intercollegiate at theLeilehua Golf Course in Hawaii.
Following their own blueprint, the men gave themselves a chance tocomplete the goals they set before starting spring play.
“It is step-by-step,” head coach Dale Walker said before thetournament. “The first step is to come out of the gate strong and getoff to a good start. Our next goal is to remain level throughout theyear.”
But the Aztecs didn’t get off to a good start — they got off toan unbelievable start, beating three top 20 teams on their way to thefirst team victory of the year, and boosting their national rankingto No. 26.
Aztecs junior John Lieber led the way for San Diego State and ledthe field of 106 players wire-to-wire, to take his first individualcollegiate victory.
“I was just hitting the ball well,” Lieber said, “And after thefirst day, the tournament was mine to win or lose.”
But Lieber, who shot an opening day 65 on his way to a three-roundtotal of 9-under 207, said the team victory was more important to himthan it may have been in the past.
“Up until recently, I never looked at golf as a team sport,”Lieber said. “After we got a speech on teamwork I started looking atit differently. I definitely put a lot more importance on the teamnow.”
Walker said the interesting thing is that his team is playing as aunit.
“Walking down the 18th hole after John hit his second shot, heasked me how the guys were doing,” Walker said. “And he wasn’ttalking about the individuals playing against him, he was talkingabout his teammates.”
And his teammates were doing very well. All five starters finishedin the top 40, and four of five finished in the top 22. Lieber tookmedalist honors, while Brandon Kearney finished 12th, Mark Warman18th, Scott Henderson 22nd. Lars Johansson finished 40th.
The Aztecs’ next tournament is the Pacific Coast Intercollegiatein Santa Barbara, March 7-8.
Aztecmen’s Player of the Week
Junior John Lieber led the Aztecs to their first team victory ofthe year while capturing his first individual collegiate victory.With his three round totals of 65-71-71–207, Lieber is this week’smen’s golfer of the week.
Aztec women’s update
Going into play Tuesday, the Lady Aztecs were holding on to fourthplace after the opening round of the Bay Area Classic Monday. Theteam combined for a season-low round of 304, including a 1-over 73 bysenior Heather Rollo, and a 3-over 75 by sophomore Shayna Miyajima.
TheAztecs headed into the final round Tuesday just seven strokes behindNo. 34 ranked Idaho.
Individually, Rollo was three strokes off the pace going into playTuesday. Miyajima is poised to make a run; she is positioned inninth. The other two scores that counted toward the team total wereAsa Jankler’s 5-over 77 and Sandy Kim’s 7-over 79.
Lady Aztec Player of the Week
Sophomore Sandy Kim took fourth place individually at the LadyAztec Spring Invitational, at Lake San Marcos Country Club, Feb.17-18. Kim shot a 78-75–153 and was a diamond in the rough for theAztecs, who had a tough tournament, finishing 10th.
