THIS WEEK: After having not competed for almost a month, the Cal State Fullerton men's golf team returns to the links this weekend for the first time since early September, and is out to defend its title at the Firestone Grill Invitational hosted by Cal Poly on Oct. 8-9 in Nipomo, Calif.
THE COURSE: This week's event will be held at the Monarch Dunes Golf Club, which will play at 6,759 yards and par 70 for the men. The first 36 holes will begin with a shotgun start at 8:50 a.m. on Monday morning with the final 18 holes scheduled for Tuesday morning.
THE FIELD: Cal State Fullerton is one of 11 men's teams scheduled to compete this week as the Titans and host Mustangs will play alongside No. 4 UCLA, UC Riverside, Cal State Northridge, CSU Bakersfield, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, La Verne, Seattle University, and Biola.
GOIN' GRILLIN': This season will mark the fourth-straight season that the Titans will compete at the Firestone Grill Invitational and is back to defend its title after winning the event with the program's second-lowest 54-hole total (861) since being reinstated in 2009-10, defeating Utah Valley by 18 strokes. Junior Mark Anguiano shot an even-par 213 to finish tied for fourth while senior Scott Rubzin (t6th), senior Dakota Duerr (11th), sophomore Ryan Tetrault (t12th), and John San Juan (t12th) all posted top-15 finishes. Junior Corey Gard, playing as an individual, finished 10th.
TITANS AT THE FIRESTONE GRILL INVITATIONAL: Cal State Fullerton has seen tremendous success in this Central Coast event over the years as the Titans have finished among the top five teams in each of the last three Firestone Grill Invitationals and have had five golfers finish among the top 10.
Year: Finish (Team Total) - Highest Fullerton Finisher
2009: 2nd (866) - John San Juan (t4th: 71-74-70--215)
2010: 4th (891) - Corey Gard (t7th: 70-78-69--217)
2011: 1st (861) - Mark Anguiano (t4th: 69-73-71--213)
YOU CAN DUERR IT!: Senior Dakota Duerr leads the charge after finishing fourth overall in the Titans' first event of the season, helping Fullerton to fourth place at the Itani Homes Collegiate Tournament hosted by Washington State in Pullman, Wash. Duerr improved two spots after finishing day one in sixth place and seven spots overall after ending the first round in 11th place.
THIRD ROUND'S THE CHARM: Fullerton's third-round score of 286 in Pullman back in September is tied for the sixth-lowest single-round score since the program was reinstated in 2009-10.
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?: Four of Fullerton's lowest single-round team scores have been set at the Firestone Grill Invitational, including a third-round 278 that helped the Titans finish second overall at the 2009 tournament and stands as the lowest since the program was reinstated. In addition to last year's tournament-winning 861 team total, Fullerton also shot an 866 to finish second in 2009 -- the fourth-lowest 54-hole total since reinstatement.
CHIP SHOTS:
• Dakota Duerr has the lone sub-par round by a Titan this season, shooting a 1-under-par 71 in the final round of the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate in Pullman, Wash.
• The top five single-season scoring averages since the program was reinstated were all set last season led by Mark Anguiano's 72.59 average.
• Nine of 13 lowest 54-hole individual scores since reinstatement were carded last season
• Anguiano, who also shot the lowest 54-hole score since reinstatement with a 208 at last year's Big West Conference Championships to finish second overall, also became the Titans' first All-Big West Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2012.