Nov. 23, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State men's golf head coach Ryan Donovan announced the signing Monday of Todd Baek (Seoul, South Korea/Rancho Bernardo HS) to a National Letter of Intent. Baek will join the Aztecs in the fall of 2010.
"Todd is a strong competitor, who works as hard as anyone," Donovan said. "He is very respectful and I know that he will fit in well with the dynamics of our team."
Baek (pronounced Beck) began attending nearby Rancho Bernardo High School in January of 2009. In his first season with the Broncos, he finished second at the CIF San Diego Section Finals at Warner Springs Ranch Golf Course, carding a 36-hole total of 139, including a final-round 6-under 66. Baek earned both first-team all-CIF and all-Palomar League honors.
"San Diego State has a great golf program and a great coaching staff," Baek said. "I especially liked the team, and of course, San Diego is a perfect climate to golf in all year round."
Before moving to the U.S., Baek lived in Auckland, New Zealand for seven years, where he attended Orewa College. In 2007, he helped Orewa to a first-place finish in the Auckland Premier Team's Golf Competition and the North Harbour Schools Intercollegiate Golf Championships, before taking third at the New Zealand Secondary Schools National Championship, where he also placed fourth as an individual.
Originally from South Korea, Baek won San Diego Junior Amateur last December and followed that up with a victory at the inaugural Future Champions Golf World Championship in March. He finished second at the AJGA West Junior Open with a 3-under 213 in July and was the medalist at the Future Champions Golf National Tour event at Carlton Oaks Golf Course by five strokes in September.
The Aztecs, who ended the 2009-10 fall campaign ranked 24th nationally by Golfweek/Sagarin, resume action on Feb. 1-2, when the team travels to Tucson, Ariz., for the Arizona Invitational.
2009 Aztec Men's Golf Fall Signee
Todd Baek,6-2, Seoul, South Korea (Rancho Bernardo HS (Calif.))