2012 "Race to Hawaii" Qualifying - Round 4 Final standings

The traveling roster for Hawaii has been finalized and is as follows:

Patrick Rodgers

Andrew Yun

Steven Kearney

David Chung

Cameron Wilson

Patrick Grimes (will compete as an individual)

Round 4 -1/23/12

There were breezy conditions today on the Stanford Golf course which was playing much softer and therefore longer after a couple of rain storms this week.

It was Patrick Grimes who won the day...

Patrick had worked hard on his game over the winter break and in particular on his short game, green reading and putting speed. Finally, when everything was on the line, he reaped the rewards by firing a superb 3-under-par 67. In the battle for second place on the day, Andrew Yun claimed a little vengeance by making back-to-back birdies on his final two holes (4 and 5) to clip Patrick Rodgers by a shot. Patrick R. nonetheless earned an emphatic 11 shot victory in the "2012 Race to Hawaii" Qualifying Tournament with his -10 cumulative total. It is the first double-digit qualifying tournament win in Stanford Men's Golf history recorded under Coach Ray!

Here are the final 4 round totals:

1. Patrick Rodgers : 67(-3) + 66(-6) + 72 (E) + 69(-1) = 274(-10)

2. Andrew Yun : 68(-2) + 76(+4) + 73(+1) + 68(-2) = 285(+1)

3. Steven Kearney : 69(-1) + 74(+2) +76(+4) + 71(+1) = 290(+6)

4. David Chung : 68(-2) + 76(+4) + 74(+2) + 73(+3) = 291(+7)

5. Patrick Grimes : 70(E) + 78(+6) + 77(+5) + 67(-3) = 292(+8)

6. Cameron Wilson : 74(+4) + 73(+1) + 76(+4) + 73(+3) = 296(+12)

7. Shane Lebow : 69(-1) +79(+7) + 74(+2) + 77(+7) = 299(+15)

8. Andre Dedecker : 75(+5) + 81(+9) + 77(+5) + 74(+4) = 307(+23)

RTD. Marcel Puyat : 71(+1) + 77(+5) + RTD + RTD

RTD. Wilson Bowen : 77(+7) + 80(+8) + RTD + 76

The Hawaii (UH Hilo Invitational) 6-man traveling roster will be announced to the squad tomorrow morning. 5 players will form the team and one player will compete individually.

Round 3 - 1/21/12

Again, challenging conditions greeted the Cardinal Qualifiers today at the Cal Club. It was a cold and blustery afternoon with showers rolling through from the Pacific.

All things considered, players ground out their scores very well. Here is the leaderboard for round 3 scores only...

...18 birdies today!

If you are looking for the scores of Marcel Puyat and Wilson Bowen, unfortunately both players were forced to retire from the tournament due to sickness (flu) and injury respectively. Both players are hopeful to play in Monday's final round at Stanford Golf Course.

The cumulative scores are as follows...

1. Patrick Rodgers : 67(-3) + 66(-6) + 72 (E) = 205(-9)

2. Andrew Yun : 68(-2) + 76(+4) + 73(+1) = 217(+3)

3. David Chung : 68(-2) + 76(+4) + 74(+2) = 218(+4)

4. Steven Kearney : 69(-1) + 74(+2) +76(+4) = 219(+5)

5. Shane Lebow : 69(-1) +79(+7) + 74(+2) = 222(+8)

6. Cameron Wilson : 74(+4) + 73(+1) + 76(+4) = 223(+9)

7. Patrick Grimes : 70(E) + 78(+6) + 77(+5) = 225(+11)

8. Andre Dedecker : 75(+5) + 81(+9) + 77(+5) = 233(+19)

RTD. Marcel Puyat : 71(+1) + 77(+5) + RTD +

RTD. Wilson Bowen : 77(+7) + 80(+8) + RTD +

Here is a selection of wedge and short iron shots from the round...

And click here, or on the image below, to see some great photos from the 3rd round courtesy of Cal Golf Club and Ash's camera!

Round 2 - 1/20/12

It was a cool, damp and windy round at Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course and Patrick Rodgers was a man on a mission. After finishing with 3 birdies in a row to earn pole position in round one at Stanford, Patrick had this putt to start with 3 consecutive birdies today...

...which he made and amounted to this terrific scorecard...

The 66 was clearly outstanding on the day but Cameron Wilson also had and admirable 73 (+1) which featured 3 birdies and an eagle. Steven Kearney's round of 74 (+2) included 6 birdies and was good for 3rd best score of the day. Perhaps and indication of how tricky things were on the greens, Andrew Yun, 1st team all American and top of the golfstat putting rankings for the past two years 5-putted the 3rd green and was +8 after just 6 holes. Andrew's round of 76 (+4) was therefore a phenomenal comeback!

Here is the final leaderboard for round 2 scores only...

...34 birdies and 2 eagles today!!!

The cumulative totals are therefore...

1. Patrick Rodgers : 67(-3) + 66(-6) = 133(-9)

2. Steven Kearney : 69(-1) + 74(+2) = 143(+1)

3= Andrew Yun : 68(-2) + 76(+4) = 144(+2)

3= David Chung : 68(-2) + 76(+4) = 144(+2)

5. Cameron Wilson : 74(+4) + 73(+1) = 147(+5)

6= Patrick Grimes : 70(E) + 78(+6) = 148(+6)

6= Marcel Puyat : 71(+1) + 77(+5) = 148(+6)

6= Shane Lebow : 69(-1) +79(+7) = 148(+6)

9. Andre Dedecker : 75(+5) + 81(+9) = 156(+14)

10. Wilson Bowen : 77(+7) + 80(+8) = 157(+15)

Playlist of ironshots....

Round 1 - 1/18/12

The Cardinal are back after Winter Break and raring to go in this new year!

Today was the first round of our annual "Race to Hawaii" Qualifying. This event is a seriously competitive 72 hole tournament in itself, but then when you factor in how a strong showing could earn players a spot on the traveling team to compete in the UH-Hilo Intercollegiate at Waikaloa on the Big Island of Hawaii, the consequence stakes are ramped up!

Round 1 was played over The Stanford Golf Course which, due to very little rain this winter, is currently in pristine condition with firm, fast rolling greens and fairways. As you can see from the picture (left) looking over toward the pro shop and first tee from the clubhouse, it was a beautiful crisp day. Set aside difficult pin placements, these somewhat benign conditions are not necessarily how conditions will remain for the next three rounds set out for Friday January 20th at Palo Alto Municipal, Saturday January 21st at The Cal Club and Monday January 23rd at Stanford Golf Course.

Teeing off...

top: Andrew Yun (hitting) playing with Cameron Wilson, Andre Dedecker and Wilson Bowen.

middle: Patrick Rodgers (hitting) playing with Marcel Puyat and Shane Lebow.

bottom: Steven Kearney (hitting) playing with David Chung and Patrick Grimes.

Without any further ado, here you can check out the scores from Round 1 of the "2012 Race to Hawaii":

This fantastic leaderboard was made possible by GameBook who enabled us to be the very first collegiate team with live scoring during a team qualifying event. It certainly added a great deal to the fun of the day, especially when birdies were flying on the back nine and the low round title came down to the last hole. Three birdies in a row on holes 16, 17 and 18 from Patrick Rodgers finally clinched it!

Live scoring of this event will continue for each and every day of this qualifying tournament.

Should you wish to follow the hole-by-hole scores from your home or office, please look out for a link to the live leaderboard via our www.facebook.com/stanfordmensgolf and www.twitter.com/stanfordmgolf message streams. Friends of Stanford Golf can also keep mobile and follow scores by downloading the GolfGameBook iphone app.

Here are some composite screenshots and hole by hole scores that you would then be able to see on your phone...

...35 birdies and 1 eagle!

Finally, here is a video playlist of tee shots from each player:

Big Plans for 2012!

Hello Friends of Stanford Men's Golf!

It has been a while since I have recorded a blog post but the time is right to share with you a lot of exciting things that lie ahead for our team in the new year. The guys started winter quarter on Monday and the vibe has been great. We have hit the weight room for winter training right away and the team continues to make improvements in the important elements of their training. We spend time focusing on dynamic flexibility, core strength, and endurance. The cardio portion is very demanding and it not only helps our team be as fit as possible but it also builds mental strength which is a a key component to good golf. I believe the harder you can make your practice and preparation the easier the performance will be! Good college golf teams are mentally tough and get better a the conditions are more demanding. We strive for this ability.

We also will start qualifying for our first event in the new year next week. We are planning on playing 72 holes and with our destination being Hawaii the guys really bear down and grind out good scores. A week away from school to a beautiful place do wonders for ones focus! The event in Hawaii will be hosted by UH-Hilo and held at the Waikoloa Kings Course. The wind can blow and the field is top notch so we will need to have our best stuff right out of the blocks. I think with 2.5 weeks of good training and prep our team will be up for the challenge no doubt! The rest of the spring will offer some great opportunities to compete with quality events at San Diego CC and TPC Southern Highlands in Las Vegas. I really believe that winter quarter sets up a great run in the spring so looking forward to the results.

In other news ....I have officially named seniors David Chung and Wilson Bowen our Captains for this season. Both guys have taken on nice leadership roles already but we wanted to make the formal announcement as well. As a coach it is good to know you can rely on your leaders to guide the team from within and let success and hard work grow through both example and support. I am confident that both these guys are up for the responsibility and will carry our torch well.

Finally, we hope you will all mark you calenders to come out and support The US Intercollegiate at Stanford, March 30,31 and April 1 as well as the NCAA Regional at Stanford, May 17-19. Both events will be great opportunities for spectators to see very high level golf up close and personal on the beautiful Stanford Golf Course. We are honored to have the chance to host both events and they both will not disappoint in terms of long drives, crafty putts, and overall competition.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and please stop in and say hi if you are up for a tee time! Go Stanford Golf and Go Cardinal!

Coach Ray