Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Stanford competes for it's 9th national championship in Oklahoma


FINAL STANFORD RESULTS:
AFTER ROUND FOUR – Junior Isaiah Salinda proved he deserved to be included among the
nation’s best golfers Monday after finishing 15th at the NCAA Championships on Monday at Karsten Creek Golf Club.

One day after the Cardinal was eliminated from the team portion of the postseason event, Salinda went on to represent Stanford in style. He was even-par for the 72-hole stroke-play portion of the event after rounds of 71-69-75-73.

“Isaiah put up a great round today and was nearly flawless from tee to green,” said Conrad Ray, Stanford’s Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf. “It was fun to see him step up in the moment with some big crowds and the vibes you have during the final stroke play round of the NCAA Championships. It was a great way to cap off a strong season.”

Salinda was 2-over though six after a double-bogey on the par-3 third, but closed with birdies on two of the last three holes before making the turn. He had seven straight pars, bogeyed the par-4 17th and birdied the par-5 18th.

As a sophomore, Salinda was 44th at the NCAA Championships.

Augusta’s Broc Everett claimed individual medalist honors with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff against Auburn’s Brandon Mancheno. Their 7-under 281 sets the course record for a 72-hole score at Karsten Creek.

On the team leaderboard, tournament host and top-ranked Oklahoma State finished eight shots ahead of any other team in the field. The Cowboys’ 1,152 is a Karsten Creek 72-hole record.


AFTER ROUND THREE – Isaiah Salinda advanced to the fourth and final day of stroke play with a solid outing Sunday at the NCAA Championships contested at Karsten Creek Golf Club. Salinda, tied for 22nd, signed off on a 3-over-par 75 to earn the right to compete for the individual national crown, which will be determined Monday.

Salinda tees off Monday at 10:40 a.m. PT.

Salinda (71-69-75) was 1-under through 54 holes, including a one-birdie third round.

Stanford (292-295-297) tied with Northwestern for 16th after a final-day 9-over to bring its total to 20-over. The Cardinal found itself outside of the cutline (+18) through 54 holes, as the field was trimmed to the top 15 teams and the top nine individuals not on an advancing team after Sunday’s round.

“It was a tough day for our men, but we hung in there and almost made the cut with some great golf at the very end,” said Conrad Ray, Stanford’s Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf. “We fell a bit short in our quest to make match play, but I’m proud of how the guys fought until the end. Jeffrey Swegle’s under-par round was a great way to top off a great career.”

Swegle punctuated his final round with a team-best 3-under 69, including five birdies. He even birdied the par-5 18th to finish his round on what would be the final hole of his career.

Swegle (+6) tied for 57th.

Brandon Wu (69-82-74) tied for 83rd at 9-over, and Franklin Huang (76-74-79), who Ray said has been “the heart and soul of the team all year” tied for 117th at 13-over.

David Snyder tied for 137th at 17-over.

For the third straight day, the Karsten Creek Golf Club course record was shattered, as Duke posted a 12-under 276 to skyrocket to the top of the leaderboard.

Duke’s showing was three strokes better than the previous course record, set by Alabama during Saturday’s round. The Blue Devils’ 10-under 854 is also a 54-hole record for competitive events played at Karsten Creek.

Clemson’s Bryson Nimmer held the clubhouse lead through 54 holes after shooting a 68 to get to 9-under for the week. His 207 is the lowest 54-hole score recorded at Karsten Creek, surpassing Josh McCumber’s 211 at the 1996 Karsten Creek Collegiate. 
Final results for Stanford - click to enlarge
ROUND TWO RESULTS:
STILLWATER, Okla. – After two rounds, Stanford is in 18th place needing to move up to the top 15 in its 3rd round to make the cut before the fourth and final round of medal play.  The field is bunched with the Cardinal only 2 strokes behind the 13th position and only 8 strokes out of a tie for 6th.  So a solid 3rd round should move Stanford into position to make a run at match play.

Isaiah Salinda’s six-birdie outing at Karsten Creek Golf Club gave the Stanford men’s golf team a lift Saturday during the second round of the NCAA Championships. Salinda, tied for ninth, finished with a 3-under-par 69 at the 7,460-yard track.

Three bogeys speckled Salinda’s scoreboard, the penultimate coming on the par-3 seventh to bring him to even-par. Salinda then birdied Nos. 8 and 9 to turn at 2-under, then dipped to 3-under with a birdie on the par-5 14th. He closed with a bogey on the par-4 17th and a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Stanford (292-295) is 11-over through 36 holes.

Franklin Huang had the hot hand on the back nine, dropping four birdies to conclude his round with a 2-over 74. Jeffrey Swegle was five strokes better than his opening round with a 4-over 76, a score matched by David Snyder.

Brandon Wu was 10-over, and tied for 100 at 7-over through two rounds.

Sixth-ranked Alabama posted a 9-under-par 279 and Clemson’s Bryson Nimmer wrapped up his first round logging an 8-under-par 64. Alabama’s record-setting mark was the second time that the Karsten Creek course record was broken this week, as the Crimson Tide’s number surpassed Northwestern’s 8-under from Friday’s opening round.

The Crimson Tide sit two strokes off the leaders, No. 13 Texas Tech, which posted a 1-under 287 to get to 5-under for the week. Tournament host and top-ranked Oklahoma State is second at 4-under. The Cowboys were one of just six teams to shoot under par on a Karsten Creek course that bared its teeth in the second-round of stroke play.

Oklahoma State, Alabama and Texas Tech are the only three teams under par through two rounds of stroke play.

Nimmer notched eight birdies and was bogey-free during his opening round, which he concluded Saturday morning. His 8-under 64 passed LSU’s John Peterson, who shot a 7-under 65 during the 2011 NCAA Championships, for the Karsten Creek record.

Auburn’s Brandon Mancheno is the current leader in the clubhouse at 6-under after firing the best round of any player on the course Saturday, shooting a six-under 66.

The third round begins Sunday morning, and at the conclusion of play, the field will be cut to the top 15 teams and the top nine individuals not on an advancing team. The remaining teams and players will advance to Monday’s fourth and final round of stroke play.

Second round scoring is shown below - click on images to enlarge.


2nd Round Team Scores - click to enlarge


ROUND ONE (Partial Results) - By go stanford.com
STILLWATER, Okla. - Junior Brandon Wu shared the clubhouse lead for portions of the NCAA Championships' opening round Friday at Karsten Creek Golf Club, ultimately placing ninth at the completion of play.  See Stanford scorecards and team scoring for day one below.

The first round was set back by a rain delay lasting nearly two and a half hours. Then Wu turned on the heaters with a 3-under-par 69 that featured five birdies. His two bogeys came on the par-5 ninth and 14th.

"I'm happy with how the guys hung in there after a tough first few holes," said Conrad Ray, Stanford's Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "The storm was clearing out after the delay and the 10th hole was playing very difficult. The course was very challenging, and I feel like we can save some more shots in round two."

Stanford posted a 4-over 292 for 14th among the 30-team field.

Isaiah Salinda was even-par through his first nine, knocking down an eagle on the par-5 first hole to start the back. He went 1-under on the front for a 71 to share 24th place.

Franklin Huang and David Snyder posted matching scores of 4-over 76, and Jeffrey Swegle was 5-over.

After overnight and morning rainfall, Karsten Creek was left susceptible to college golf's best competitors, and several individuals took advantage of the course's soft conditions. Northwestern's Ryan Lumsden was one of those, as he is tied for the lead in the clubhouse after posting a 5-under 67.

Northwestern shot an 8-under 280 on the first 18 holes, surpassing the course's single-round record. The previous low 18-hole score in a team event was a 6-under 282 put together by Florida at the 1996 Karsten Creek Collegiate.

Northwestern's record-setting performance gave the Wildcats a three-shot lead, with first-round play called to a halt with several schools still on the course due darkness. Two rain delays totaling 3:28 made for a long day for the 30 teams and six individuals competing.

The NCAA Championships features three days of stroke play, with the top 15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team moving on to the final day of stroke play. The top eight teams advance to match play to determine an overall champion.

Round 1 Stanford scorecards & partial team scoring - click to enlarge
BACKGROUND - By gostanford.com
STANFORD, Calif. – For the 11th time in the last 14 years, Stanford will tee it up in the NCAA Men's Golf Championships, May 25-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Thirty teams will compete for the national title.
 The Cardinal is coming off an impressive second-place showing at the NCAA Pacific Regional at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton, California. Stanford combined for a final-round 11-under-par 277 -- the best score by any team during the 54-hole event. The third-seeded Cardinal concluded at 19-under 845, one stroke behind Kansas.

It was impressive outing for Stanford, which closed the regular strong against stellar competition, placing third at The Goodwin, sixth at the Western Intercollegiate and fourth at the Pac-12 Championships. Stanford has produced six top five finishes. "Our guys are believing in themselves and our preparation," said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "There's no team in the tournament we haven't played against this season." The Cardinal is seeded 16th. "There's so many good teams in college golf," Ray said. "To have a seat at the table with that group is a nice accomplishment. Anything can happen." Ray believes the low seeding could motivate his players. "We're kind of an underdog," he said. "I think our guys like that challenge." This year, a new substitution rule can be used at the regionals and NCAA Championships. Head coaches will be allowed to replace a player prior to any round due to a physical ailment or poor play. Only one Cardinal player – senior Franklin Huang – has played the course, the home track of top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oklahoma State. "Basically, you live and die with the driver," said Ray. "There's a lot of scrub brush, big, sloping greens, and you have to keep the ball below the hole. You have to be brave." Thursday-Wednesday, May 24-30Karsten Creek Golf Club • Stillwater, Oklahoma
7.460 yards/Par-72 The Tournament
• NCAA Championships • Live Results • GoStanford.com
 The Field Thirty teams and six individual will compete. 
Oklahoma State (1), Texas A&M (2), Oklahoma (3), Vanderbilt (4), Alabama (5), Florida (6), Auburn (7), Illinois (8), Baylor (9), Texas Tech (10), Clemson (11), Texas (12), North Carolina (13), Brigham Young (14), Kansas (15), Stanford (16), Arkansas (17), Arizona State (18), UNLV (19), North Florida (20), Kentucky (21), UCLA (22), Duke (23), Kent State (24), Oregon (25), Northwestern (26), N.C. State (27), Iowa State (28), Central Florida (29) and Augusta (30). Cardinal Contingent
• Stanford will be represented by senior Franklin Huang, junior Isaiah Salinda, sophomore David Snyder, senior Jeffrey Swegle and junior Brandon Wu.  Sophomore Henry Shimp is the alternate. The Format
• Three days of stroke play, with the top 15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team moving on to the final day of stroke play. The top eight teams advance to match play to determine an overall champion. The Schedule
• Friday, May 25: First round of stroke play• Saturday, May 26: Second round of stroke play• Sunday, May 27: Third round of stroke play• Monday, May 28: Final round of stroke play• Tuesday, May 30: Quarterfinals and semifinals of team match play• Wednesday, May 30: Championship match Tee times • Stanford begins first round play on Friday at 7:00 a.m. CT on the 10th tee with Arkansas and Arizona State. The Cardinal begins second round play at 12:20 p.m. CT on the 1st tee Arkansas and Arizona State. Third and fourth round pairing will be determined by team scores. The Lowdown
• Stanford is participating in the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in the last 14 years. The Cardinal has captured eight national titles, previously winning in 2007, 1994, 1953, 1946, 1942, 1941, 1939 and 1938. Stanford has produced three individual winners: Cameron Wilson (2014), Tiger Woods (1996) and Frank "Sandy" Tatum (1942). 
• Wu finished second at the NCAA Pacific Regional with a career-best score of 14-under 202, shooting rounds of 67-67-68. An All-Pac-12 first team selection in 2017-18, he has posted four top 10 showings and has led the squad in five of 11 tournaments. • Huang has four top 10s, while Salinda has three tops 10s. • Swegle fired a career-best 8-under 63 at The Goodwin at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, tied for the fourth-lowest score in program history. He posted a career-high second place finish.
The Course
• Karsten Creek Golf Club will host the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Golf Championships. Karsten Creek has previously hosted the NCAA Men's Golf Championships in 2003 and 2011. • Karsten Creek was built in 1994 for the Oklahoma State golf teams. It was designed by Tom Fazio and honored as the "Best New Public Course" for 1994 by Golf Digest Magazine. It can be stretched more than 7,400 yards with SR1020 bent-grass greens and zoysia fairways. All of the holes were carved out around the native oak trees surrounding Lake Louise. • In the May 1998 edition of Golf Digest, Karsten Creek Golf Club was awarded its first five-star rating, making the course one of 10 in the nation to be so honored. Since that time, the course has gone on to receive numerous accolades. Karsten Creek joined the likes of Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Pinehurst Resort and Country Club (No. 2). Four of these courses have hosted major championships, and most of the others maintain national prominence. While other courses are located in resort areas or near the coasts, Karsten Creek's surprising beauty is derived from an unsuspecting tract of land that is densely covered with black jack and pin oak trees and contains dramatic elevation changes that are not common to the heartland of America. As the course continues to mature, it steadily climbs all of the top 100 lists across the country and has been ranked as the best college course in the country by Travel & Leisure Golf magazine.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Stanford is #3 Seed in the NCAA Pacific Regional

Stanford team and field - click to enlarge


FINAL RESULTS: by GoStanford.com
STOCKTON, Calif. – Coming up big when it mattered most, the third-seeded Stanford men's golf team fired a final-round 11-under-par 277 on Wednesday to finish second at the NCAA Pacific Regional and advance to the tournament proper, May 24-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
 
Led by junior Brandon Wu, who placed second overall, the stellar last day score was the lowest by any team during the 54-hole tournament at The Reserve at Spanos Park.
 
"I kind of challenged the guys last night to try and win the tournament and they almost did," said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "Winning the day is a great accomplishment and should give us some confidence and momentum."
 
It marks the 11th time in the last 14 years that Stanford has qualified for the NCAA Championships. The Cardinal owns eight titles, the last achieved in 2007.

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 Stanford entered Wednesday's final round in fourth place and knew it needed a solid showing to earn one of five spots in the 13-team field to move on. Starting on the back nine, junior Isaiah Salinda set the early tone by blitzing the side in 5-under 31.
 
"He got it going and everyone was feeling the vibe," Ray said. "It was really good to see him make some putts."
 
The Cardinal nearly caught frontrunner Kansas on the final hole to capture a share of its third consecutive regional crown. Wu burned the edge of the cup with a birdie putt that also would have tied Norman Xiong of Oregon for medalist honors.
 
Stanford posted rounds of 285-283-277 to conclude at 19-under 845, one shot behind the Jayhawks. Iowa State (847) took third, followed by Alabama (849) and Oregon (852).
 
Wu, an All-Pac-12 first team selection, matched his best-ever finish at Stanford. He played brilliantly from start to finish, shooting rounds of 67-67-68 to card a career-best total of 14-under 202. He made only four bogeys.
 
Playing with Xiong on Wednesday, Wu eagled the par-5 11th, his second hole of the round, and shot a 1-under 35 on his opening nine. On the back side, Wu birdied 1, 5 and 7 to record a 3-under 33.
 
"It was kind of blow by blow," said Ray of the Wu-Xiong battle.
 
Xiong two-putted for a par on the final green from about 15 feet to secure the win.
 
Wu tied for second at last year's NCAA Regional Championships. This week's performance was his fourth top 10 of the season and the fifth time in 11 starts this season that he has paced the Cardinal.
 
Three other Stanford players broke par, as Salinda (t-23) and David Snyder (t-43) shot 69's and Franklin Huang (t-37) a 71. Jeffrey Swegle (t-37) added a 73.
 
Impressively, the Cardinal was a combined 4-under on the last nine.
 
"It was a good team week," Ray said. "They all kicked in at one point."
 
Snyder, a sophomore, rebounded from a first-round 77 to break par each of the last two days. On Wednesday, he forged an eagle and four birdies to fashion his lowest round versus par on The Farm.
 
"He's a grinder," said Ray. "I'm really happy for him."
 
Stanford was one four Pac-12 schools to advance from six regional sites and will join Oregon, Arizona State and UCLA in the 30-team field in Stillwater.


Scoring results including round 3 Stanford scorecards are shown below - click on image to enlarge.


ROUND TWO RESULTS: by GoStanford.com (see full team and Stanford scoring below)
STOCKTON, Calif. – Riding another stellar performance by junior Brandon Wu, third-seeded Stanford improved one spot Tuesday in the NCAA Men's Golf Pacific Regional at The Reserve at Spanos Park.

Wu fired his second-straight 5-under-par 67 and leads the individual competition with a 36-hole score of 10-under 134, one stroke ahead of Norman Xiong of Oregon.

The Cardinal tallied a four-player total of 5-under 283 – two shots better than Monday's opening round – and resides in fourth place with a two-day score of 8-under 568. Alabama and Iowa State share the top-spot at 14-under 562, followed by Kansas State at 13-under 563.

TCU is sixth at 7-under 569, while Colorado and Oregon share sixth at 4-under 572.

The final round will be played Wednesday, with the top five teams and one individual not a member of an advancing team moving on to the NCAA Championships, May 24-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

For the second consecutive round, Wu fashioned six birdies and one bogey. Starting on the back nine, he recorded birdies at the par-5 11th and 16th holes, and made the turn in 2-under 34.

Wu caught fire on the front with birdies at 1, 2, 3 and 4. He made his lone bogey at the par-4 seventh,
then parred the last two holes for a 3-under 33.

Junior Isaiah Salinda parlayed four birdies into a 1-under 71, while sophomore David Snyder added 72, eagling the par-5 11th hole.

Senior Jeffrey Swegle (144) is tied for 26th, while Salinda and senior Franklin Huang (146) are knotted for 42nd. Snyder (149) is tied for 61st.

Stanford begins final round play Wednesday at 8 a.m. PT off the 10th and will play with Oregon and TCU.
Round 2 team and Stanford scoring

ROUND ONE RESULTS: by GoStanford.com (see full team and Stanford scoring below)
STOCKTON, Calif. – Brandon Wu carded a 5-under-par 67 to help third-seeded Stanford place fifth on Monday in the first round of the NCAA Pacific Men's Regional Golf Championships at The Reserve at Spanos Park.

The Cardinal combined for a best four-out-of-five score of 3-under 285 in the 54-hole stroke play tournament. Iowa State leads at 10-under 278, followed by Kansas (281), Alabama (282) and TCU (283).

"I think we all felt pretty good about today's first round," said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "They guys hung in there with some early tough conditions. It was chilly and very windy."
 

Teeing off early, Wu started strong with birdies at the first and second holes. He added another at the par-5 fifth and turned in 3-under 33.

Wu sustained his only bogey of the round at No. 10, but followed with birdies at 12, 13 and 16. He was a combined 3-under on the par-5's and is tied for second, one stroke behind pacesetter Carl Yuan (66) of Washington.

The 67 matched Wu's third-best round of the season, topped by a 6-under 65 at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invite. It was also his 13th round in the 60's.

"Very solid round," Ray said. "His lone bogey was a three-putt from long distance." 

The Cardinal received a 2-under 70 from senior Jeffrey Swegle, who fashioned four birdies and two bogeys and is tied for 13th. Senior Franklin Huang birdied two of his last three holes to shoot 73 and is tied for 37th, while junior Isaiah Salinda (75) and sophomore David Snyder (77) are tied for 52nd and 68th, respectively.   

Stanford, seeking its third consecutive NCAA regional crown, begins second round play Tuesday morning. Thirteen teams are competing, with the top five and low individual not a member of an advancing school qualifying for the NCAA Championships, May 24-30 at the Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

"I think our guys felt like they left a few shots out there," said Ray. "I expect tomorrow to be a solid day with a chance to move up the leader board."

The Cardinal will play with Oregon and TCU, and tees off between 8:00 and 8:44 a.m. PT on the 10th tee.


BACKGROUND - by GoStanford.com
STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford makes its 20th consecutive post-season appearance next week at the NCAA Stockton Regional at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton, California, hosted by the University of Pacific.
The third-seeded Cardinal is seeking its third straight regional crown and sixth overall, previously winning in 1996, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 10 of the last 13 years, Stanford has advanced to the NCAA Championships.

"There will likely be some low scoring if the wind doesn't blow or if the rough isn't up, but we'll see what it gives us and go from there," said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "The Regional is always a test no matter where you play or what type of season you've had. We are trying to win the golf tournament just like any other and create as much positive momentum as we can."

Stanford, ranked 13th, is one of 13 teams vying for five spots in the NCAA Championships, May 24-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. There are five other NCAA regional qualifiers.

The Cardinal finished the regular season with several strong performances against stellar competition, placing third at The Goodwin, sixth at the Western Intercollegiate and fourth at the Pac-12 Championships. Stanford has produced five top five finishes.

This year, a new substitution rule can be used at the regionals and NCAA Championships. Head coaches will be allowed to replace a player prior to any round due to a physical ailment or poor play.

"We have good depth, so we will likely bring an extra player," Ray said. "Most of the time it will be based on injury or if someone is struggling, knowing the goal is to advance."
  
Monday-Wednesday, May 14-16
The Reserve at Spanos Park • Stockton, Calif.

The Tournament

• NCAA Stockton Regional Championship

• Live Results • GoStanford.com

 The Field

• 13 teams and 10 individuals

• The team field includes No. 1 LSU. No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Stanford, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 TCU,  No. 7 Colorado, No. 8 Kansas, No. 9 Kennesaw State, No. 10 Iowa State, No. 11 North Carolina-Greensboro, No. 12 UC Irvine and No. 13 North Dakota State. 
     
The Format

• The event spans three days and features 54 holes of stroke play. Team scores will consist of the cumulative total of its four best scores out of five per round. The low five teams and top individual not a member of an advancing team qualify for the NCAA Championships, May 24-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Tee Times

• Stanford begins first round play on Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:14 a.m. PT on the first tee with LSU and Alabama. Second and third round pairings will be determined by team scores, with times running from 7:30 a.m. PT to 10:04 a.m. PT.

Cardinal Contingent

• Stanford will be represented by senior Jeffrey Swegle, senior Franklin Huang, junior Brandon Wu, sophomore David Snyder and junior Isaiah Salinda.  Sophomore Henry Shimp is the alternate.

• Franklin Huang won individual honors at the 2016 NCAA Tucson Regional in Marana, Arizona.

The Lowdown

• Stanford is participating in the NCAA Regionals for the 20th consecutive year. The Cardinal has captured two straight regional crowns and six overall.

• In 2017, the Cardinal shared the NCAA Stanford Regional title with Baylor at Stanford Golf Course. Brandon Wu and Franklin Huang tied for fourth individually, and Isaiah Salindafinished 20th.

The Course

The Reserve at Spanos Park opened in 1999 and was designed by Andy Raugust. It measures 7,239 yards from the championship tees and plays to a par-72. The course is located on a mostly flat, 360-acre site that includes seven lakes, natural wetlands and working farmland. The bent grass greens are small and quick, made even more challenging when the wind blows.