STANFORD, Calif. – For the 12th time in program history, Stanford men’s golf won the Pac-12 Championship behind medalist Michael Thorbjornsen, the Cardinal’s 13th individual champion in program history.
“It’s a culmination of a lot of time and hard work,” Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf Conrad Ray said. “If you look at the journey of a guy like Nate Menon – with injuries and everything – or even Barclay Brown, all of the experience and calm showed up today. We knew the course better than anyone being at home, and the guys hit the shots when they needed to.”
Stanford dominated on Sunday as the winds picked up at Stanford Golf Course. The Cardinal’s 4-under 346 was the only score under par, and seven shots better than Washington State’s 3-over 353. Of the teams that Stanford began the day tied with, or behind, the Cardinal was 13 shots better than Arizona State, 16 better than Colorado and 18 better than Washington.
“I think this is a group that is fueled by confidence,” Ray said. “To get this shot in the arm as we start looking towards Regionals and NCAA Championships is great. When these guys are feeling good, they’re really good.”
The 13-stroke victory (19-under 1,381) was the first double-digit margin of victory for a team at Pac-12 Championships since 2016, when the Cardinal bested Cal by 29 shots. More impressively, Stanford sat in sixth place and trailed Arizona State by 19 shots following 18 holes on Friday, meaning the Cardinal bested the Sun Devils by 32 strokes over the final 54 holes.
“I just kept reminding them that it’s six-count-five and that makes a big difference,” Ray said of the early deficit. “Just be patient, play good golf.”
On the individual side, Thorbjornsen is Stanford’s first Pac-12 champion since Maverick McNealy in 2015. He began the day two shots ahead of Colorado’s Dylan McDermott, and his 2-under 68 matched McDermott’s for a two-stroke victory at 15-under 265. The 15-under-par was a career best for Thorbjornsen.
“It feels really good, we are all on cloud nine right now,” Thorbjornsen said. “Being able to do it in the fashion we did is truly incredible. I think this is really what we needed as a team. We are taking a lot of confidence away from this one.
“It means a lot to join the likes of Tiger, Patrick Rodgers and Maverick McNealy, among others, as a Pac-12 champion. It is amazing to win both the individual and team championship.”
The 2023 title marked Ray’s fifth Pac-12…
“It’s a culmination of a lot of time and hard work,” Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf Conrad Ray said. “If you look at the journey of a guy like Nate Menon – with injuries and everything – or even Barclay Brown, all of the experience and calm showed up today. We knew the course better than anyone being at home, and the guys hit the shots when they needed to.”
Stanford dominated on Sunday as the winds picked up at Stanford Golf Course. The Cardinal’s 4-under 346 was the only score under par, and seven shots better than Washington State’s 3-over 353. Of the teams that Stanford began the day tied with, or behind, the Cardinal was 13 shots better than Arizona State, 16 better than Colorado and 18 better than Washington.
“I think this is a group that is fueled by confidence,” Ray said. “To get this shot in the arm as we start looking towards Regionals and NCAA Championships is great. When these guys are feeling good, they’re really good.”
The 13-stroke victory (19-under 1,381) was the first double-digit margin of victory for a team at Pac-12 Championships since 2016, when the Cardinal bested Cal by 29 shots. More impressively, Stanford sat in sixth place and trailed Arizona State by 19 shots following 18 holes on Friday, meaning the Cardinal bested the Sun Devils by 32 strokes over the final 54 holes.
“I just kept reminding them that it’s six-count-five and that makes a big difference,” Ray said of the early deficit. “Just be patient, play good golf.”
On the individual side, Thorbjornsen is Stanford’s first Pac-12 champion since Maverick McNealy in 2015. He began the day two shots ahead of Colorado’s Dylan McDermott, and his 2-under 68 matched McDermott’s for a two-stroke victory at 15-under 265. The 15-under-par was a career best for Thorbjornsen.
“It feels really good, we are all on cloud nine right now,” Thorbjornsen said. “Being able to do it in the fashion we did is truly incredible. I think this is really what we needed as a team. We are taking a lot of confidence away from this one.
“It means a lot to join the likes of Tiger, Patrick Rodgers and Maverick McNealy, among others, as a Pac-12 champion. It is amazing to win both the individual and team championship.”
The 2023 title marked Ray’s fifth Pac-12…
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