Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
John Burns Invitational
Golf Finishes Sixth in Hawai'i
2/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 23, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State jumped two places to finish sixth at the John Burns Invitational hosted by the University of Hawi'i at the Leleihua Golf Course that completed play today, Friday, Feb. 23.
The Bulldogs were able to defeat all fellow District 7 teams, except for New Mexico, some for the first time this season. Fresno State finished with a team total of 858, finishing under UTEP, Colorado State, Hawai'i and San Diego State.
Sophomore Nick Watney (Dixon, Calif.) dominated play leading the Bulldogs in scoring. Watney jumped from eighth place yesterday to finishing second after shooting a 65 today. Watney shot a three-day total of 68-71-65--205. Watney's finish in Hawaii is his highest placing since winning at the Inverness Club in September and his score of 65 is a new collegiate career low.
After shooting his career high yesterday, junior Dustin Smith (Crescent City, Calif.) finished at 16th today. Smith shot 72-65-75--212 over the three-day tournament. Fellow junior Jonathon Echols (Hanford, Calif.) finished at 47th after shooting 69-74-77--220. Both Smith and Echols are playing for their first season after transferring last year and redshirting.
Lone senior Wes Lovell (Cockeysville, Md.) shot 77-76-71--224 to finish at 69th. Following behind Lovell was freshman Chad Spencer (Rocklin, Calif.) who finished at 95 after shooting 80-80-75--235.
"This was a very key tournament for us as far as District 7 is concerned," head coach Mike Watney said. "I new we could sweep the District 7 teams and we did. We were ready to compete and the guys shot a couple of incredible rounds. We had three guys that shot at least one round in the sixties, which is incredible. We came out in a competitive mode and we got done what we needed to."
New Mexico won the tournament with 832. In second came Auburn with 837 and following in a close third was UNLV with 843. Top individual was New Mexico's Mike Letzig, who lead the tournament all the way and finished with a total of 199.
The Bulldogs will now return home before getting back on the road to Los Angles to comete in the Cleveland Golf Collegiate Classic on March 5.
