Nov. 5, 2012

SAN MARTIN, Calif. - Stanford junior Cameron Wilson set a course record at CordeValle Resort Monday, firing an opening round 61 (-10) at the eighth annual Gifford Intercollegiate Golf Championship. Wilson opened the round by birdying the first three holes and eight of the first ten, and finished just as strong making three birdies on the final four holes. The junior from Rowayton, Conn. fired a 30 on the front and 31 on the back.

Wilson's 61 was one stroke lower than the previous best on the Robert Trent Jones designed course, posted by several PGA players, most recently John Mallinger and Nick O'Hern in the 2012 Frys.com Open in October. His round tied Tiger Woods for the lowest score in the history of Stanford golf, a mark Woods posted in the 1996 Pac-12 Championship.

"Cameron's round today was one of the best in Stanford's golf program history," The Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf Conrad Ray told reporters. "Cameron seemed very comfortable from the first tee shot today. This is his third year competing in the Gifford Intercollegiate Golf Championship, and he likes the CordeValle course."

The Cardinal fired a five-man total 353 (-2), good for second place, two strokes behind UCLA. Patrick Rodgers and David Boote shot 72 (+1), with Dominick Francks and Steve Kearney carding rounds of 74 (+3). Shane Lebow shot 79 (+8).

Wilson missed a pair of early season events recovering from a back injury. Carding a stroke average of 72.4 last season, the Cardinal received a big boost from his return, including a 69 in the second round of the U.S. Intercollegiate. Still, no one expected a record-setting performance.

Play continues tomorrow, with live scoring available here.