Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
NCAA West Regional
Golf Team Advances to NCAA Championships
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 18, 2002
Albuquerque - Fresno State will advance to the NCAA Championships May 29- June 1 in Columbus, Ohio. The Bulldogs finished in ninth place in the tournament, 15 strokes over par for a 879 finish. The team's score Saturday was 296(+8). A 27-team field participated in the tournament and 10 will move to the championships.
"It was one of those days that we couldn't get anything going, but the guys hung tough," Coach Mike Watney said. "We made it [to the NCAA Championships] and that was our goal."
Host New Mexico and Washington won the tournament with 872(+8). UNLV was third with 874(+10). Minnesota was fourth with 875(+11). Arizona, Texas and Pacific were sixth with 878(+14). Texas placed 10th after a play off between the Longhorns and San Diego State.
The Bulldogs had three players place in the top-29. Junior Nick Watney (Dixon, Calif.) finished third. His score is 74-69-71-214(-2). Senior Jonathan Echols (Hanford, Calif.) tied for 14th with 70-72-75-217(+1). Senior Dustin Smith (Crescent City, Calif.) tied for 29th and has a score of 70-75-75-220(+4). There was 141 players in the tournament.
Two freshman also competed at the West Regional for the 'Dogs. Ryan Carter (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) tied for 99th with a score of 76-77-76-229(+13). Ian Nelson (Canyon Lake, Calif.) is tied for 112th(+16) with 76-81-75-232(+16).
Rick Barns of Arizona tied Minnesota's Justin Smith in the West Regional. Barns finished with 70-67-73-210(-6). Smith's score was 70-72-68 (-6).
Bullard High graduate Jason Higton (Fresno, Calif.) of Pacific tied for 107th with 75-81-75-231 (+15).
The three-day NCAA West Regional concluded Saturday at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The course is a Par 72 and 7, 368 yards.
