Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers has been named the Pac-12 Conference Men’s Golfer of the Year and Cardinal head coach Conrad Ray was tabbed Pac-12 Coach of the Year in a voting by the Pac-12 men’s golf coaches, as announced by the league Monday.
Rodgers is the fourth different Stanford golfer to earn Golfer of the Year honors, and the first since Rob Grube shared the award with Arizona State’s Alejandro Canizares in 2006.
A semifinalist for the Hogan Award given annually to the nation’s top collegiate golfer, Rodgers has finished in the top five in six events this season and has placed outside the top 10 just twice in 10 events.
The junior claimed five tournament victories in 2013- 14, including four of the last five tournaments as he picked up medalist honors at The Prestige (Feb. 17-19), Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters (March 7-9), The Goodwin (March 28-30), and most recently the Pac-12 Championship (April 25-27).
Only a second-place finish to teammate Cameron Wilson at the Western Intercollegiate (April 12-13) kept him from posting five straight wins.
Rodgers has posted 10 tournament victories in three seasons on The Farm, just one win shy of the school record of 11 held by Tiger Woods. Currently ranked No. 1 in the latest Golfstat individual rankings, Rodgers carried a 69.44 stroke average into the Pac-12 Championship.
Ray, in his 10th year as head coach, recently led Stanford to its eighth Pac-12 Championship and first since 1994. It’s the second time Ray has earned league coach of the year honors, having also earned the distinction in 2007.
During the 2013-14 season, the Cardinal took home five tournament titles and shared or placed second in two other tournaments. The Cardinal is currently ranked No. 3 by Golfstat and No. 6 by Golfweek.
Wilson, who finished third at the league tournament and won the Western Intercollegiate, was named to the All-Pac-12 first team along with Rodgers. Honorable mention nods went to Maverick McNealy, one of two league freshmen to earn the accolade.
McNealy, a resident of Portola Valley, also found a spot on the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team.
The Cardinal will find out to which regional it has been assigned next Monday.
Women’s golf
Stanford was one of 24 teams selected to play in the NCAA East Regional at SouthWood Golf Club in Tallahassee, Fla., as announced Monday on the Golf Channel.
The 54-hole event will be held May 8-10 at one of the premier golf courses in the state of Florida. It marks the first time Florida State will play host to the event.
No. 9 Stanford is coming off its second-ever Pac-12 Conference title, rallying to win the event at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis, Ore.
With Stanford’s 5-over 869, the Cardinal (286-291-292) went from third after its second round to raising the conference trophy on the strength of a one-stroke win over Arizona.
Eight teams and two individuals will advance from each regional. The championships finals will be held May 20-23 at Tulsa Country Club.
Stanford is seeded third in the regional behind Duke and South Carolina.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics