Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
WAC Championship
Doverspike Voted WAC Player of the Year, `Dogs Finish Second
4/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 29, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State finished second at the Club Glove WAC men's golf championship with Grant Doverspike taking second. After compiling the best score of the second round with 300, the `Dogs backed it up by posting a 284. The 284 was the low round of the day and the second lowest round of the tournament.
The Bulldogs improved on last year's third place finish, shooting 287-300-284 - 871 to finish the tournament in second place with 7-over par, just one stroke behind top finishers, New Mexico State (870/+6).
"I am proud of the guys," said head coach Mike Watney. "It was a very exciting finish and back and forth the whole day. We hoped that they [New Mexico State] wouldn't have continued to played as well as they did but they never let up and we just couldnt get over that hump."
"It was down to the last put. I have to give kudos to New Mexico State," said Watney. "They fought hard, espeically Travis [Reid], he pretty much carried that team through the championship.
Fresno State's Grant Doverspike, finished in second at 2-over with a three-round total of 212 to have a third top-five appearance of the year and third top-five finish at the WAC Championships in his career. Doverspike led the field in par four scoring with a 3.90 stroke average and he also compiled a tournament high of16 birdies.
Doverspike posted a 70 on Wednesday to hold on to second place by three strokes over San Jose State's Jay Myers. Doverspike was solid at 3-under par until the 16th hole. With a double bogey on 16 and par on 17, he fell to 1-under. On the final hole Doverspike held on to birdie and finished the day at 2-under.
Player of the year, Doverspike, carded 67-75-70 over the three-day tournament to trail only New Mexico State's Travis Reid by three strokes. Doverspike is the first person since Nick Watney in 2003 to receive Player of the Year honors by the WAC. He is also the ninth conference Player of the Year the Mike Watney has coached.
"The coaches had so much respect for Grant's consistency throughout the year and thats why he was a unanimous vote for Player of the Year," stated Watney.
Freshman Bhavik Patel had an impressive showing at the tournament by earning his second top 10 finish of the season. Patel posted a third round total of 1-over par 73 and a three-round total of 220 to tie for ninth.
Bryan Hogan shot a 70 during the final round to finish in the top 20 of the field. He tied for 12th and carded a three-round total of 221. Michael Gideon finished in a tie for17th place with 73-74-76 - 223. Todd Angel (76-80-71) shared 22nd with 227.
In the rest of the team competition, Fresno State was second (871), followed by Idaho (876), Utah State (891), Nevada (892), San Jose State (895), Louisiana Tech (906), Boise State (925) and Hawai'i (945).
Fresno State's Grant Doverspike earned First Team All-WAC honors for the third consecutive year and was voted unanimously by the coaches to be the player of the year.
Also announced today were the All-WAC teams and top awards.
2008-09 Awards
First Team All-WAC
Grant Doverspike, Fresno State, Jr.
Travis Reid, New Mexico State, Sr.
Scott Smith, Nevada, So.
Mark Hubbard, San Jose State, So.
Jared Becher, Nevada, Jr.
Second Team All-WAC
Scott Loewen, Boise State, Sr.
Kevin Lozares, New Mexico State, Sr.
Ryan Hallisey, Nevada, Jr.
Jarred Bossio, Idaho, Fr.
Jay Myers, San Jose State, Fr.
Player of the Year: Grant Doverspike, Fresno State
Freshman of the Year: Jarred Bossio, Idaho
Coach of the Year: Scott Lieberwirth, New Mexico State
Players Mentioned
