49ers Begin Season At Gene Miranda Invitational
Beach Kicks Off Season With Experienced Squad
September 5, 2006 This Week: The Long Beach State men's golf team will head to the state of Colorado for the 38th annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. The event will be held at the Eisenhower Golf Club - Blue Course on Saturday and Sunday. The 54-hole tournament is slated to begin with two rounds on Saturday at 8:30 am, while the final round will begin Sunday at 8:30 am.
The Coach: Bob Livingstone is in his 13th season as the head men's golf coach at Long Beach State. Livingstone was named the 2006 Big West Tri-Coach of the Year.
Big Senior Class: Livingstone has the luxury this year of having five seniors on the squad. Nick Badel, Jeremy Keller, Brett Lederer, Ryan Ritter and Ryan Wood give the 49ers one of the most experienced teams in the Big West Conference. Wood, a first team all-league performer last season, was invited to the 2006 NCAA West Regionals as an individual. Lederer was a second team all-league pick in 2006 and brings a resume that includes competition in 33 collegiate tournaments. Ritter competed in five tournaments last season after redshirting in 2004-05. Badel participated in seven tournaments last year, finishing in 16th place at the Big West Championships with a 221. Keller was a second team All-Big West pick in 2005 and has been named to the 2005 and 2006 Big West Spring All-Academic Teams.
Livingstone On Opener: "We are really excited to get the new year underway! I think the Eisenhower Course sets up really well for our players, since we have longer hitters than we have had in quite awhile. However, because of graduations and injuries, this is a completely new team, and none of the players have ever seen the course, or played in Colorado's high elevation, so it should be interesting to see how they adapt."
Four Newcomers: Livingstone has four players on his roster who aren't members of the senior class. Two redshirted last year as freshmen (Karl Katnik, Aaron Slonim), while Kris Assawapimonporn (Saddleback JC) and Michael Drake (Riverside/Martin Luther King HS) are true newcomers to the squad.
Eisenhower Blue Course: The Eisenhower Golf Club - Blue Course opened in 1959, named after former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who took part in the dedication ceremony. The 7,301-yard, par-72 course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and was named the eighth-best college course in the nation by Golf Digest in 2005.
Travel Squad For Falcon Invitational: As of Tuesday, the travel squad for this weekend's tournament will consist of: Kris Assawapimonporn, Nick Badel, Michael Drake, Aaron Slonim and Ryan Wood.
Last Year At The Falcon Invitational: Last year the 49ers tied for third place at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. The 49ers shot an 875 (290-297-288) for the three rounds. Jeremy Keller tied for third place overall with a three-under 213 (71-73-69), while Brett Lederer (71-73-76) and James Logeman (75-76-69) both tied for 12th place at 220.
Returning Players:
Nick Badel (Senior, Lakewood, CA): Played in seven tournaments last year, two as an individual... tied for 33rd at the UCI Anteater Invitational (79-75--154)... tied for 16th at the Big West Championships with a 221 (78-71-72).
Karl Katnik (Redshirt Freshman, Santa Ana, CA): Redshirted last year... prepped at Foothill High School... helped lead Foothill to the 2004 Seaview League title... was the Seaview League individual champion in 2004 and 2003... a three-time first team all-league selection... won the Anya Junior Tournament at Tustin Ranch in 2004... had three top 25 finishes in AJGA Events.
Jeremy Keller (Senior, Las Vegas, NV): Competed in seven tournaments... tied for third at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational with a 213 (71-73-69)... tied for 30th at the Del Walker Intercollegiate with a 219 (71-76-72).
Brett Lederer (Senior, Lakewood, CA): 2006 second team All-Big West... competed in 10 tournaments on the season... had three Top 10 finishes... tied for fourth at the Western Intercollegiate with a 141 (70-71)... tied for fifth at the John A. Burns Invitational with a 204 (65-72-67) and tied for eighth place at the Callaway Invitational with a 222 (73-72-77)... tied for 12th as last year's Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational with a 220 (71-73-76).
Ryan Ritter (Senior, Orange, CA): Competed in five tournaments last year, two as an individual... tied for 35th at the 49er Collegiate Classic with a 232 (75-74-83)... tied for 40th at the UCI Anteater Invitational with a 156 (72-84).
Aaron Slonim (Redshirt Freshman, Las Vegas, NV): Redshirted last year for the 49ers... prepped at Bonanza High School... a two-time All-State pick in Nevada, as well as a two-time All-City selection in Las Vegas... won the 2004 Nevada State High School Golf Championship... finished fifth at the Nevada State Tournament in 2003 and 2005... represented Southern Nevada on the 2003 Junior Americas Cup... place 35th at the 2003 Junior World Championships... was the 2005 runner-up in the Nevada State Match Play Championships.
Ryan Wood (Senior, Oceanside, CA): First team All-Big West Conference in 2006... selected to compete at the NCAA West Regionals as an individual... tied for 99th place at Regionals with a 223 (79-74-70)... had three Top 10 finishes on the year... seventh at the Northwest Collegiate Classic with a 212 (70-68-74)... tied for 10th at the Del Walker Intercollegiate with a 213 (69-72-72) and finished fifth at the Callaway Invitational with a 220 (75-70-75).
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