Golf World College Players of the Week
March 19-25MEN
J.J. Spaun, San Diego State
The senior from San Dimas, Calif., earned his second and third career victories within a five-day span this past week when he shot a four-under 212 to take the title at the Callaway Farms Invitational and then
a 15-under 201 to take the title at the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson. Spaun's total at Omni Tucson National Resort was 24.48 strokes lower than the average 54-hole score in the tournament as he beat runner-up Zack Blair of BYU by four stroke and then was 13-strokes better than the foursome tied in third place.
Spaun's performances were also key to the Aztecs claiming the team title in each event.
"J.J. has taken his leadership role to another level, which we obviously needed these last two weeks," said SDSU men's coach
Ryan Donovan. "He has set the tone for what we expect to accomplish as a team and I know the guys will respond. It is always great to win and I am proud of the team and their perseverance. I am fortunate to coach this group of players and I know our experience will help us down the road."
For the season, Spaun has finish T-12 or better in six of his seven starts while posting a 71.10 stroke average.
WOMEN
Paula Reto, Purdue
Just three weeks after her teammate,
Laura Gonzalez-Escallon, tied the school single-round record with a 65 at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, the junior from South Africa broke the mark with a eight-under 64 at Forest Hills GC in Augusta, Ga., en route to a nine-under 217 and a 10-stroke triumph at the Insperity Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate.
The record-breaking round included birdies on five of her last six holes, including the last four. "I called my coach [
Caroline Haase] over on No. 13 and asked her why I was hooking my shots, and she told me to complete my backswing," Reto said. "I did, knocked a 9-iron to five feet, and it was smooth sailing into the clubhouse. I kept giving 100 percent all the way in, taking it one shot at a time and really staying in the moment."
A year ago Reto finished second in the tournament. Combine the six rounds in the two events and Reto has a 69.5 stroke average at Forest Hills GC.
Photos: Courtesy of San Diego State Sports Information Department (Spahn); Jason Barnette/Purdue Sports Information Department
As he begins play today at the U.S. Intercollegiate at Stanford GC, San Diego State senior J.J. Spaun is riding a three-tournament winning streak and has become a dark-horse candidate for national player of the year honors. The 21-year-old from San Dimas, Calif., has played in eight events during the 2011-12 season, posting four top-three finishes, five top-10s, just one showing outside the top-12 and a 70.63 stroke average. 
