March 10, 2013

Southern Highlands Collegiate Team Results

Southern Highlands Collegiate Individual Results

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - After two strong rounds at second, Stanford men's golf shot a 12-over-par 300 in the final round to finish fifth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters.

The Cardinal (286-290-300) had a low of one over today from Patrick Rodgers and Cameron Wilson. Both players made bogeys on the first hole but recovered with birdies scattered throughout the round.

Rodgers, a sophomore, made a birdie on the 18th hole to get into the four-way playoff between California's Michael Kim, New Mexico's James Erkenbeck and Alabama's Cory Whitsett. All four players shot four under in the tournament and were credited with a victory. Rodgers (66-73-73), however, birdied the 18th again during sudden death for the individual medal.

"My record is good in playoffs and for whatever reason I feel very comfortable in those situations," said Rodgers who earned his fifth collegiate title and third of the season. "I had just played 18 really well and felt I could do it again. The key shot was the drive. If I could thread the needle between the bunker left and water right, I could get it into a good position for my third. I hit two great shots and a pitch to 12 feet and hit a great putt.

"This was a big win for me. I have been working very hard and not getting the results, but I was still trusting of the work I was putting in. To battle back after falling behind and make two big putts on 18 gives me a lot of confidence going forward."

No. 1 (Golfweek) California scored 285-280-291 to win the tournament at 856, 20 strokes ahead of the Cardinal. No. 3 Alabama and No. 5 New Mexico tied for second, while No. 6 UCLA finished fourth.

"As the tournament went on the greens firmed up so that made it a little trickier," said Philip Rowe, Stanford Enlight Foundation Assistant Coach. "It's always a combination of making good aim points, taking good strategy and executing the shots. Today our execution was off and the momentum slid away from us."

No. 13 Stanford at fifth finished ahead of six teams ranked ahead of them, including four in the top 10, on one of the strongest fields until the NCAA Championships.

“The conditions were very difficult and the competition was tough,” said The Knowles Family Director of Golf Conrad Ray. “It was a good measuring stick of what we need to work on.”

Wilson (71-71-73), in a strong finish, recorded a one-under-par 215 for fifth. The junior made five birdies in the final round with three consecutive ones on the last three holes.

For senior Andrew Yun (73-74-76), a final four-over round tied him for 31st at 223. Freshman David Boote (76-72-78) tied for 48th at 226, while senior Steve Kearney (83-75-79) tied for 75th at 237.

"Our top players were great and we just need a little more depth next time around," said Rowe. "We'll be working hard on our short game between now and the next tournament."

The Cardinal will host the U.S. Intercollegiate on March 28-30.

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