Reports From LBSU

The Long Beach State men’s golf team closed out the 2009-10 season with a third place finish at the Big West Conference Championship in Mission Viejo on Tuesday afternoon. It was LBSU’s highest finish since the 2006 campaign when the 49ers finished in third.

LBSU recorded a final round score of 303 (+15) at the Mission Viejo Country Club to finish with a 54-hole total of 895 (+31) as The Beach held a two-stroke lead over fourth place UC Santa Barbara (897).

UC Irvine claimed the team championship and the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with a nine-over (873) as the Anteaters won by a comfortable 17 shots over Pacific (890).

Senior Steve Gibson was the top player for the 49ers as he carded a 76 to finish at six-over (222) and move up one spot from ninth to tie for eighth.

Fellow classmate Michael Drake shot a 77 for a nine-over (225) as he tied for 16th, followed by sophomoreKevin Roy with a 76 to tie for 22nd at 11-over (227).

Freshman Benjamin Lein made a strong comeback with a 74 after shooting an 82 in the second round to move up five spots to finish in 25th for a 12-over (228).

Senior Robbie Berton finished in 37th after carding a final round of 86 for a 22-over (238).

John Chin of UC Irvine won the individual medalist with a seven-under as he held a nine stroke lead over T.J. Bordeaux (Pacific) and Pace Johnson (Cal Poly).