SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Cameron Wilson and Patrick Rodgers are in a three-way tie for first along with Washington’s Trevor Simsby through 36 holes Saturday at the Western Intercollegiate. The threesome will turn on the heat for the tournament’s coveted blue jacket Sunday at the par-70 Pasatiempo Golf Club.
A win for Rodgers would be his fourth straight to bring him one shy of Tiger Woods’ school-record 11 titles, and a win for the Cardinal would be its second consecutive after capturing The Goodwin crown two weeks ago at Stanford Golf Course.
Wilson has a chance for his second win on the season to give him bookend victories as the senior lefty won the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational in September.
Rodgers went 65-69 for a 6-under and Wilson turned in the same total with consecutive rounds of 67. The duo helped put No. 6 Stanford atop the leaderboard with a 4-under 696 (347-349), six shots better than second-place Washington. No. 3 Cal is 4-over and third among the 14-team field.
“The guys played well today, and it’s nice to have a lead going into the final round in this very competitive field,” said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf. “I was proud of the way that we hung in there and eliminated big mistakes today. We dropped a few shots on the last hole, but nonetheless are happy with how the day turned out. There is a lot of golf left.
“We had solid contributions from everyone on the team, and it will be neat to see Cameron and Patrick fight it out for the individual title.”
Rodgers’ opening 65 came with seven birdies, five of which came on the back nine. He was 2-under in his second round until closing with a bogey on 18. With only one bogey in each of his rounds, Wilson used an eagle on the par-5 ninth en route to his second-round 67.
Maverick McNealy followed a 1-over with a 1-under for an even-par 240 and a share of 14th-place. David Boote was the fourth Cardinal in the top 20, tying for 18th at 1-over.
Viraat Badhwar was even on the front nine in his two rounds but 9-over on the back with scores of 74 and 75.
Playing as an individual, Dominick Francks is tied for 18th with rounds of 70 and 71, and Patrick Grimes shaved seven shots of his opening 18 to close the day with a 72.
Jim Liu rebounded from an opening-round 12-over with a 73.