Report by LBSU

The Long Beach State men’s golf team travels to San Martin, Calif. as they take part in the fifth annual Gifford Collegiate Championship at CordeValle hosted by UCLA. The three-day tournament begins on Monday, Nov. 9 at the CordeValle Resort and continues through Wednesday, Nov. 11, with 18-holes being played on each day beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Fourteen teams are scheduled to compete in the 54-hole tournament that includes UCLA, Stanford, Southern California, Duke, Charlotte, Northwestern, Long Beach State, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Augusta State, Ohio State, Colorado and Lamar.

CordeValle was recently named California’s No. 1 golf destination by CondeNast Traveler’s June 2007 Readers’ Poll and was ranked the No. 13 golf resort in North America, the Caribbean and Atlantic, Ireland and Scotland. CordeValle was also ranked in the top three in the 2007 – 2008 issue of Zagat Guide’s America’s Top Golf Courses.

The 49ers are coming off three days rest as they recently returned from Hawaii after finishing in fourth place with a one-under par 863 (285-294-284) at the Turtle Bay Invitational in Kahuku, Oahu.

Senior Michael Drake continued with his stellar performance this season as he recorded his second straight top 10 finish as he tied for third place at Turtle Bay with a six-under 210 (70-72-68).

LBSU also had two other players finish in the top 20 in Hawaii as freshman Benjamin Lein finished in 17th with a two-over 218 (70-75-73) and senior Steve Gibson finished one shot back as he tied for 18th with a three-over 219 (75-74-70).

The 49ers conclude the fall season with the Gifford Collegiate Championship and will return to action Feb. 14, as they co-host the inaugural Battle at the Beach with UCLA. The three-day tournament will take place at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast, Calif.