Immediately following the 1999 fall golf season, the San Diego State men?s golf team met for a closed-door team session that involved grading their fall performance. The common theme from the coaches and players in regards to the performance was ?solid play, but unspectacular at times.?
The men?s golf program is aware that a window of opportunity lies ahead. Largely because of last season?s achievements, including an appearance at the NCAA Championships.
It capped off in what had to be one of the best seasons in school history since the program?s reinstatement in 1993. But still, a sluggish fall campaign overshadowed the 1998-99 season of success. As the 2000 spring season approaches, eighth-year head coach Neale Stoner looks to instill that Aztec touch for another prosperous spring season.
?We were pleased with certain aspects on the fall season, but we were disappointed with the way we played at times,? said Stoner. ?We let a lot of opportunities get away from us last fall and that really left a bad taste in our mouth.?
One of the biggest concerns entering the fall happened to be the team?s attitude coming off last year?s success. Would the group return with an complacent attitude? Or would their appetite to capture an NCAA title increase?
?Mentally getting to the NCAA Championships is very draining, let alone tough on you physically,? said Stoner. ?I think the kids were still feeling the effects of everything that went on in the spring. They all enjoyed the experience of last season, but I know each player wants more than to just make it there. They want to win the damn thing.?
To accomplish success in 2000, coach Stoner and his staff made the effort to condition the team better both mentally and physically. To endure a full slate of events in the spring, the coaching staff provided an aerobic program for the athletes during time off in the winter-break session.
Four days a week the athletes would go through different weight exercises and stretching. This exercise develops greater flexibility on their swing and adds power to their driving distance.
Stoner got the idea to implement a strict conditioning regimen from first-year assistant coach Dale Walker.
?A well-conditioned team means not only can we outlast our opponents, but it adds toughness in each individual to overcome those rigorous courses they compete on,? said Walker.
Aside from developing a better fit group of athletes, the coaching staff also wanted to position the team to win spring events and win the NCAA title. The best way to do so is to put together the best possible team on the golf course.
?I really think we?ve got the players that can get us to win as a team,? said Stoner. ?My part is to get them focused and determined to shoot low scores and win.?
Looking to lead the way is Magnus Carlsson, the lone senior on the squad who hails from Helsingborg, Sweden. His vast experience, leadership and talent will be instrumental in SDSU?s success.
?Magnus is ready to burst on the scene,? said Stoner. ?He has a lot of resilience in him and the ability to shoot low scores each time he goes out.?
Carlsson?s resilience was no more evident in the fall. Fighting through a minor back injury , he competed at every event and finished with a 75.4 stroke average.
Joining Carlsson is returnee Scott Piercy and freshman Lars Johansson.
Piercy did the unprecedented this fall, winning two individual titles in the span of three weeks. Another native of Sweden, Johansson put together an equally solid performance in the fall. He finished second to Piercy on the team with a 73.2 stroke average.
?Scott and Lars both have great inner drive and determination to succeed,? said Stoner. ?They are both tough as nails.?
Another returning veteran is junior Ryan Donovan who has had his share of troubles when it comes to the spring season.
?The biggest test for Ryan is to see how well he plays in the first spring outing,? said Stoner. ?In the past Ryan has started slowly and was never able to regain the confidence he needed to get through a spring campaign.?
Stoner added that he believes Donovan?s recent success over the summer could get him over the hump.
Donovan, from nearby Yorba Linda, qualified for the US Amateurs this past July at the Pauma Valley Country Club. His development could go a long way in helping SDSU returning to the NCAA Championship for a second straight time.
Five other Aztecs will challenge for the fifth traveling spot, including freshmen Luis Assemat and John Lieber, along with sophomore Chris Galeski and junior Jens Ullstrom.
?We?ll need to give each one of them the chance to show us who can help us this spring,? said Stoner. ?I believe each player can compete at this level. It?s a matter of them showing the coaching staff what they can do on the golf course.?
The spring season begins January 31 at the Raven Country Club in Tucson, Arizona. It will be the team?s first test to see how far it has come from a solid, but unspectacular fall season.
?We set a number of goals this spring,? said Stoner. ?We want to be in a position to win and shoot low scores at most of our events. But ultimately, the goal is to win the NCAA Title.?