Sipe Ties for Third at Oregon Duck Invitational

JUNCTION CITY, Ore. ? Oregon's Derek Sipe shot a 2-under 70 and finished tied for third at 4-under 212 following Tuesday's final round of the men's Duck Invitational golf tournament, played under sunny, but breezy conditions at the 6,807-yard, par-72 Shadow Hills Country Club.

No. 22 San Diego State shot an even par 288 and eased to the team title at 10-under 854. It was the Aztecs' second Duck Invitational title in the last three years.

Washington's Joe Panzeri, competing as an individual, injected some excitement into the medalist race by firing a 6-under 66 Tuesday, the lowest round of the tournament. Panzeri caught Washington State's Ryan Witz for first place after Witz, the second round leader, carded an even-par 72 in the final round. Both players were at 5-under 211 for the tournament.

Sipe and San Diego State's Adam Goldberg were tied for third one shot off the pace. It was the best career finish for Sipe, a sophomore from Yorba Linda, Calif., whose previous best was a tie for seventh at the 2005 Taylor Made Waikoloa Intercollegiate.

"Derek is really maturing as a player," said Oregon coach Steve Nosler. "I'm not sure he understands how much better of a player he could still become, but this was a great tournament for him. He has really set himself up nicely now for a very strong spring."

The Ducks also received top-20 finishes out of Dustin Pewarchuk, Gregg LaVoie and Chris Dukeminier, though the latter player competed individually. Pewarchuk, a junior from Victoria, B.C. continued his consistent play, following his rounds of 73-73 with an even-par 72 Tuesday. He tied for 17th at 2-over 218, as did LaVoie, a senior from Pasco, Wash., who closed with a 73. It was the fourth top-20 finish of the spring for LaVoie, who earned 2005 All-America honorable mention honors.

Dukeminier, a senior from Eugene, Ore., was under par for the second time during the tournament, completed a career tournament with a 70. He tied for 11th at 1-under 215, which marked the best finish of the Sheldon High School graduate's career. Dukeminier bettered his previous best varsity finish, a tie for 34th at the 2005 Western Invitational.

San Diego State used Goldberg's 71 and Adam Scott's 72 to close out first place. SDSU won the 2004 Oregon Duck invitational, which was also the last time the tournament was contested at Shadow Hills. Nevada shot the low round of the day, a 282, to make things interesting, but the Wolf Pack settled for second at 866. Oregon State was third at 869, followed by Wyoming and Washington State tied for fourth at 874.

The Ducks' couldn't quite catch the Cougars or Cowboys and settled for sixth at 876 following a 2-over 290 Tuesday. It was still Oregon's best team finish of the season. Texas-Pan American, coach by former Duck player Andrew Tredway, was seventh at 890, with UC Davis eighth at 900.

"We didn't do quite enough to move up today," said Nosler. "We didn't have a bad round, but it wasn't quite enough to make up for the 297 we shot in the second round."

Among the other Ducks who competed as individuals, senior Justin St. Clair, from Springfield, Ore., and sophomore Joey Benedetti tied for 22nd at 220. For Benedetti, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., the top-25 finish marked his best showing this season and his second-highest career finish.

Oregon is next in action April 8-9 at the Thunderbird Invitational at Tempe, Ariz.

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