Chico State Athletics - Souza shares top spot in USGA Public Links qualifier, advances to amateur championship

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Souza shares top spot in USGA Public Links qualifier, advances to amateur championship

Wildcat Kyle Souza is one of 140 golfers competing for the USGA Amateur Public Links championship.

6/28/2010 2:00:44 PM

CHICO – Just a month after competing in the NCAA Championships and earning All-America honors, Chico State men’s golfer Kyle Souza continues to post some hot numbers during the summer. Last week the Wildcat junior shot a 5-under par 139 to share medalist honors during a United States Golf Assocation (USGA) Public Links qualifier in Nashville, Tenn., and will now advance to the USGA Amateur Public Links national championship in mid-July. The eventual winner will earn an amateur spot in the 2011 Masters.

Playing 36 holes last Tuesday at Harpeth Hills Golf Course in Nashville, Souza fired a 2-under par 70 in the morning round, then in the afternoon birdied his final hole for a 3-under 69 to tie for first and claim one of the two national championship berths up for grabs.

The 2010 USGA Amateur Public Links championships, consisting of 140 golfers advancing from 71 qualifying tournaments throughout the country, will take place July 12-17 on the championship course at Bryan Park Golf Complex in Greensboro, N.C. All golfers will play 36 holes stroke play, with the low 64 advancing to match play.

This is the second time Souza has qualified for a USGA national championship – in 2008, as an incoming freshman, he competed at Shoal Creek, Ala. for the US Junior Amateur title.

Wildcat fans can follow Souza’s progress at www.usga.com.

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Wildcats of the Week

Mike Janjigian

Men's Soccer

Mike Janjigian’s job is, first and foremost, to keep the ball out of the net. But so far this year, he’s made headlines by putting the ball in it. The Chico State freshman defender scored the game-winning goal in the Wildcats’ season-opening 2-1 win against Western Washington Thursday night and then assisted on the team’s lone goal in a 1-0 win against Seattle Pacific on Monday night. He’s been named the inagural 2010-11 male Wildcat of the Week for his efforts.

Oh yeah, and Janjigian has helped Chico State’s defense hold its two opponents to a total of one goal on just 12 shots. Not a bad start to his career.

Janjigian, who redshirted last season, is now tied with returning All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) selection Chris Akwaja for the team lead in points, goals and assists.

His first collegiate goal came in the 88th minute Thursday when he knocked home a deflected header from the top of the six-yard box to lift the Wildcats to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Western Washington in the season opener for both teams.

Urged by Wildcats Head Coach Felipe Restrepo to move into the box for a corner kick more than likely because of his strapping 6-foot-3 frame, Janjigian was there to pounce after Western Washington goalkeeper Christian Warman was unable to corral Akwaja’s header at the far post. It bounced twice to Janjigian, who jammed it home.

Monday, Janjigian tallied his first collegiate assist. He just got the top of his head on Ryan Nevarez’s long throw in and it skimmed off to the near post where Ferid Celosmanovic waited. He let it get beyond him and clear the post before looping his right foot behind his left leg and directing the ball into the net to make it 1-0 in the 61st minute.

Janjigian and the Wildcats will open CCAA play on the road next weekend. The Wildcats will travel to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and San Francisco State Sunday.

Jessica Leek

Women's Volleyball

Sophomore Jessica Leek served as the Chico State volleyball team's top offensive weapon as the Wildcats opened the 2010 season with a 3-1 record at the Sonoma State-hosted Seawolf Spike Tournament. Leek pounded out a team-high 55 kills, adding 20 digs, four service aces, two solo blocks and seven block assists to earn Seawolf Spike All-Tournament team honors. She's also the Wildcat of the Week.

Leek’s best match of the tournament was Chico State’s four-set victory Friday over BYU-Hawaii. The Laguna Niguel native piled up 22 kills and posted a .459 hitting percentage against the Seasiders, and contributed eight digs, one solo block and one block assist. Leek recorded 11 kills in Friday’s season opener against Dominican and another 15 kills Saturday as the Wildcats downed Grand Canyon.

Leek enters the week ranked fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in kills, fourth in hitting percentage (.364), seventh in kills per set (3.44) and seventh in points per set (4.03).

Chico State takes on William Jessup University Tuesday at Acker Gym before opening CCAA play Friday and Saturday on the road against Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

8.25.10 | Men's Golf

Thompson comes up short in U.S. Amateur Championship

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Chico State's Cody Thompson shot a 5-over par 77 Tuesday – a six stroke improvement from Monday's opening round – but it wasn't enough to make the cut in stroke play and advance in the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship, being played at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash. Thompson completed the event's first two rounds with a score of 17-over 160, leaving him in a tie for 247th place in the 312 player field.

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8.24.10 | Men's Golf

Thompson has lots of ground to make up following first round of U.S. Amateur Championship

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Chico State men's golfer Cody Thompson will need to deliver a dynamic second round if he hopes to advance in the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship. Thompson posted a 12-over par 83 in Monday's opening round of stroke play, leaving him in a tie for 263rd place in the 312-player field at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

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7.27.10 | Men's Golf

National power Chico State hosts tournament Oct. 11-12

The Chico State men's golf team will host the InterWest Wildcat Classic Oct. 11-12 at Butte Creek Country Club as part of a four-tournament fall schedule. This will mark the only chance for fans to see the Wildcats locally following last year's third-place finish at the NCAA Championship Tournament.

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7.27.10 | Men's Golf

Thompson qualifies for next month’s U.S. Amateur Championship

SANTA CRUZ – It seems the biggest and most prestigious amateur golf tournament in the country just wouldn't be complete without a Wildcat in the field. Incoming Chico State men's golfer Cody Thompson, set to join the 'Cats this fall, shot a 1-over par 145 during a 36-hole sectional qualifier Monday to earn a spot in the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship, taking place August 23-29 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash. Thompson becomes the third Chico State golfer in as many years to compete for the coveted Havemeyer Cup.

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7.15.10 | Men's Golf

Souza swings into sweet 16 before quest for Masters quelled

GREENSBORO, N.C. – I admit it. I was just using it to catch your eye. I had no illusions that Kyle Souza had a legitimate chance at qualifying for the Master’s Golf Tournament. After all, he was one of 156 golfers swinging for one spot in the arguably the most prestigious golf tournament in the world at the 85th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Then there’s the fact that Souza just finished his sophomore year a little old Chico State. We don’t often get a chance to combine the Master’s and the name of a Chico State athlete in a lead, so it was a no-brainer.

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7.14.10 | Men's Golf

Souza stays alive, wins match play opener in U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Less than an hour after he found out he had survived 36 holes of stroke play to advance to the field of 64 in the 85th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, Chico State men’s golfer Kyle Souza teed it up Wednesday morning for the opening round of match play at Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center in Greensboro, N.C. It was a successful day for the Livermore native, as Souza – the No. 56 seed – defeated ninth-seeded Justin Lower 5 and 3 to move on to Thursday’s match play competition.

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7.14.10 | Men's Golf

Souza advances to match play in U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Second round of stroke play in the 85th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship – interrupted by a lightning storm late Tuesday – was concluded Wednesday morning, with 18 players wrapping up their final few holes. When all the scorecards were turned in, Chico State’s men golfer Kyle Souza was among the top 64 players in the tournament and earned the right to move on to the first round of match play at the Champions Course at Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center in Greensboro, N.C. Souza finished with a 36-hole total of 4-over par 146, putting him in an 11-way for 48th place.

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