Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Set to Host Lexus Golf Classic
10/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 12, 2005
Tournament Quick Facts
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FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's golf team will host the 43rd Lexus Golf Classic this Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs welcome 14 squads to the par-71, 6,776-yard course at San Joaquin Country Club for tournament play.
Featuring teams from the Southwest region, the tournament provides an opportunity for those around the Valley to witness top collegiate golf.
Fresno State has made two top-five finishes in four tournaments so far this season. The team is coming off a second-place finish at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational, where senior Jon Rosa won the individual title.
Other teams competing in the Lexus Golf Classic include Colorado State, Denver, Hawaii, Long Beach State, Nevada, CS Northridge, Pacific, UC Riverside, San Diego, San Diego State, San Jose State, Southern Utah, Saint Mary's and UTEP.
"I think the strongest team in the field is San Diego State. They are loaded with powerful players," head coach Mike Watney said. "The team coming off a big win [at the Wolf Pack Classic] is Nevada. That was Coach Merritt's first win as a Nevada coach. He really has that team going in the right direction.
"Another team to watch is San Diego. New coach Tim Mickelson, Phil's brother, brought in some foreigners and they are good. Other teams to watch are UC Riverside, Colorado State, Denver, and of course, the Bulldogs. The `Dogs may be slowed though with injuries," Watney added. "Ryan McDonald broke his thumb, Nick McClintock took stitches in his hand, and Mark Modglin is having some issues with his back. The injuries and an ineligible Brian Kelley will definitely give some of the new guys the opportunity to shine."
The Bulldog lineup includes eight players total, with Mark Pryor and Nick McClintock playing as individuals. Rosa, Jason Anthony, Mark Modglin, Matt Shaw, Brian Ward and Gunnar Avinelis round out Fresno State's lineup.
"I think the individual race is wide open," Watney said. "Bulldog Jon Rosa is coming off a first-place finish at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational as well as a solid top-10 performance in Nevada. I think Mark Modglin could get hot and win again like he did at BYU last season. Jason Anthony, Matt Shaw, and Brian Ward have won outside of college, and it's just a matter of time until they do it on the college tour."
Containing the four most difficult starting holes in the Central Valley, the San Joaquin Country Club is known for its fair but tough test of the game of golf. The club has played host to the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers, the NCAA Men's Finals Championship, the WAC Championship and the USGA Men's Mid-Amateur.
"When San Joaquin Country Club hosted the U.S. Mid-Amateur, this club bent over backwards to improve everything to bring it up to USGA Major Tournament standards," Watney said. "We all get to enjoy the fruits of their wonderful efforts."
The format consists of 54 holes, with the top four scores being counted from each team's six players. Friday's play begins at 7:45 a.m. with a shotgun start for 36 holes, and Saturday's tee time is at 8 a.m. for the final 18 holes. Live scoring will be available on www.golfstat.com.
