It was a bad trip, man

It will go down in history as "The Trip.''

When the coach and players of Cal State Long Beach's men's golf team remember their journey to Florida for last Monday's and Tuesday's Florida Atlantic Tournament, they will certainly have something to talk, and laugh, about.

"The players told me five years from now,'' Coach Bob Livingstone said, "we'll still be talking about it."

The 49ers had an undesirable stay at LAX Saturday, one that lasted seven hours and featured their flight being delayed and changed.

But the best was yet to come.

How about no hotel rooms available upon arrival in Florida during the early morning hours? Their luggage not arriving with them?

Bad weather?

A traffic accident on the way to the airport coming home?

"A terrible trip,'' Livingstone said. "Just a little bit of trouble, huh?''

Other than that, all was fine.

The 49ers finished sixth in a 18-team tournament that North Florida won.

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The 49ers arrived at LAX Saturday morning and were anxious to leave at 9 a.m. for Miami.

But they were told their flight was delayed until 11.

Then, at 10:45, they were informed that the flight had been canceled, but that there was a 2 p.m. flight to Ft. Lauderdale that they could take.

So they did.

When the 49ers arrived at their hotel near midnight, no rooms were available, except for two cottages that were $90 more. Livingstone agreed.

"For a minute there,'' Livingstone said, "I was thinking about going to a Motel 6.''

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The adventure was not over. On the van ride from Miami to the airport, Livingstone got lost.

Then he rear-ended a car at a red light.

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Senior Jason Drotter, who looked good in the practice round, shot a first-round 85 - possibly his worst ever.

Afterward, Drotter said he will take three months off and try to rebound for the second semester. That's if he is granted a second semester.

The NCAA is expected to make a decision on Drotter's eligibility within the next few weeks.

Drotter, who attended Long Beach City College, is trying to obtain a medical redshirt from his 1990 season there.