Oct. 17, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 23 Stanford men's golf team will compete in prime time at the U.S. Collegiate Championship this weekend at The Golf Club of Georgia. After years as a Sunday-Tuesday event, the tournament will run Friday-Sunday, increasing the profile and attendance at one of the nation's most prestigious regular-season events.

The Golf Club of Georgia is one of the world's finest 36-hole golf clubs, and was honored by Golf Digest in 1991 as the "Best New Private Course" in America. The tournament will be played on the club's Lakeside Course, which features a par-72, 7,017-yard layout.

"We're excited to go back to Atlanta to play a strong field on a great golf course, said Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf Conrad Ray. "The golf course is really challenging, it's tree-lined with difficult, well-bunkered greens and there's going to be a premium on short game this week and keeping the ball in play."

Ray will put forth a lineup of Patrick Rodgers, Dominick Francks, Cameron Wilson, Steve Kearney and David Boote.

Rodgers started the season with a successful defense of his title at the Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields Invitational, and followed up with a tie for 22nd at the Pac-12 Preview. Rodgers has posted victories in three of 14 starts for the Cardinal and has finished in the top-10 in 11 of those events.

Freshman Dominick Francks saw his first action of the season last week at the Pac-12 Preview. Francks showed a glimpse of his talent, playing the middle-36 holes at four-under, including an eagle on the second day.

"Cameron Wilson is likely back in the lineup this week, which is a nice addition to our scoring ability," said Ray. "Getting him back from injury will be a good boost of energy for the guys."

Kearney competed in eight events last season, posting a stroke average of 75.0. He finished tied for 56th at Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini after rounds of 79-73-77 (229, +19).

Boote has finished in the top-10 in both of his collegiate starts. He followed a tie for seventh at Olympia Fields with a tie for third at the Pac-12 Preview. The freshman from Surrey, England is tied with Rodgers for the lowest stroke average on the team, at 70.3.

Live scoring is available here.