[Spiny_Norman]

Indeed, Pasatiempo was a great test for players who are used to bomb-and-gouge courses. The fairways are narrow and the greens are very, very tricky. Many different levels, some steep slopes, difficult recovery shots if players miss on the wrong side. Holes were cut in places where you had to be very precise with where you landed your approach shot in order to get it close to the hole. It was fun watching the players try to respond to that challenge.

Stanford did it better than anyone else and won the tournament, their 1st win of the year. Michael Thorbjornsen had a chance to win the individual medal but finished T2. Karl Vilips hit some terrible shots but scrambled like crazy, making a series of 8 to 10 footers for par. A round that could have been 75 was even par 70. That's the kind of play needed in the postseason. You have to be able to score even when not playing your best. The pleasant surprise (and key to the victory) was freshman Ethan Gao who shot a final round 68 and finished 18th overall.

The team now prepares for the Pac 12s, the last conference championship ever. Like the Western Intercollegiate, the P12 tournament is a 6-count 5 affair. Once Stanford starts the postseason at regionals, it will be 5-count 4. Coach Ray might have a tough decision about lineup at regionals if Barclay Brown does not start playing better. He seems to be really struggling. He has not finished in the top 25 in any tournament this season. If Stanford is going to have postseason success, Brown needs to be a contributing factor.

[Spiny_Norman]

Indeed, Pasatiempo was a great test for players who are used to bomb-and-gouge courses. The fairways are narrow and the greens are very, very tricky. Many different levels, some steep slopes, difficult recovery shots if players miss on the wrong side. Holes were cut in places where you had to be very precise with where you landed your approach shot in order to get it close to the hole. It was fun watching the players try to respond to that challenge.

Stanford did it better than anyone else and won the tournament, their 1st win of the year. Michael Thorbjornsen had a chance to win the individual medal but finished T2. Karl Vilips hit some terrible shots but scrambled like crazy, making a series of 8 to 10 footers for par. A round that could have been 75 was even par 70. That's the kind of play needed in the postseason. You have to be able to score even when not playing your best. The pleasant surprise (and key to the victory) was freshman Ethan Gao who shot a final round 68 and finished 18th overall.

The team now prepares for the Pac 12s, the last conference championship ever. Like the Western Intercollegiate, the P12 tournament is a 6-count 5 affair. Once Stanford starts the postseason at regionals, it will be 5-count 4. Coach Ray might have a tough decision about lineup at regionals if Barclay Brown does not start playing better. He seems to be really struggling. He has not finished in the top 25 in any tournament this season. If Stanford is going to have postseason success, Brown needs to be a contributing factor.