Feb. 15, 2013

Peg Barnard Invitational Live Scoring

STANFORD, Calif. - No. 22 Stanford hosts its spring opener on Saturday with the Peg Barnard Invitational on the Stanford Golf Course.

Top-ranked Washington and No. 11 UC Davis, along with the Cardinal, headline a field which also includes Pac-12 rivals California and Oregon State.

San Jose State, New Mexico, Fresno State, Boston College, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Rollins College, and Nevada round out the field.

The 36-hole event runs from Feb. 16-17 at Stanford Golf Course, which plays approximately 6,051 yards and to a par of 71. Live scoring will be available on GolfStat.com.

Stanford has won the team event five times (2010, 2008, 2007, 2004, and 1995). The Cardinal has produced four individual champions in 2010, 2003, 1999, and 1995.

Senior Sally Watson, a member of that 2010 title-clinching team, tied for first in the Peg Barnard Invitational as a freshman.

"Winning is always the goal," said Watson, a first-team All-Pac-12 Academic selection. "But on top of that I also want to enjoy myself and appreciate the event and all of the people that have come out to support me and the team over the past four years."

Stanford's Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf Anne Walker will start a lineup featuring freshman Mariah Stackhouse, sophomore Mariko Tumangan, Watson, junior Danielle Frasier and freshman Lauren Kim. Senior Kristina Wong will compete as an individual.

"The lineup is bookended by two freshmen," said Walker. "To see Mariah win qualifying at nine under par was exciting and gives me great optimism for the future of the program. Having Sally [right] in the middle with all of her experience is good [and] having a solid player in the three [middle] spots creates great energy in the group."

The Cardinal began fall season with strong team finishes: 11th at the Mason Rudolph Invitational and two consecutive third-place finishes at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational and the Stanford Intercollegiate.

"From the fall season, the team learned that we are capable of becoming champions," said Tumangan, who tied for 10th in last year's Peg Barnard Invitational. "We're ready to take on the challenge in the spring."

Frasier, who did not compete in the fall, makes her season debut.

"I have worked really hard on my mental game," said Frasier. "I have focused on trusting my game and converting what I practice over to when I play on the course."

For Kim, with fall came a tie for 17th where she lead the team at the Mason Rudolph, a tie for 19th at the Stanford Intercollegiate, and a tie for 40th at the Edean Ihlanfeldt.

"I have been working on specific, but minor, swing changes to be more consistent in how I hit the ball," said Kim. "Simplifying my swing as much as possible has always worked well for me."

The shotgun start is set for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Sunday times are subject to change due to anticipated frost delay and will be confirmed at the end of the first round.

"Our goal is to be in contention at every tournament this spring," said Walker. "We know we can't win them all on day one, but our goal is to not lose them either. We have a young team but a very experienced team."

- By Estela-Marie Go, Stanford Athletics

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