STANFORD, Calif. – Franklin Huang and Maverick McNealy each shot 3-under Thursday to open The Goodwin at the par-70 Stanford Golf Course, putting the host Cardinal in first place through 18 holes. Huang and McNealy are tied for second among individuals.
With former Cardinal head coach Wally Goodwin, the tournament's namesake, watching among the gallery, No. 12 Stanford teamed for a 4-under to take a seven-stroke lead over second-place Washington (+3). Southern Methodist (+4) is third and No. 1 USC (+5) is third. Corey Pereira (-4) has control of the medalist race.
The three-day event resumes Friday with live results available at GoStanford.com. The 24-field team includes five ranked programs.
Showing up and showing out at The Goodwin. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/slmfQGUpNT
— Stanford Men's Golf (@StanfordMGolf) March 31, 2017
"We're excited about today's start against a good field," said Conrad Ray, Stanford's Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "The conditions were very testy, and we're happy that the guys were able to control their ball flight and maintain their composure. We got through the first six holes in good shape -- it was a tough stretch into the wind on a tough part of the golf course. We're looking forward to another tough test tomorrow."
Huang was even through 13 holes despite already having three birdies on his scorecard. He didn't hit a great shot off the 14th tee, but got lucky with a shot that settled 15 feet below the hole. Huang made the putt to start a streak of three straight birdies.
On the 15th, he played his drive just off the fairway and placed his next shot short and to the right, leaving him an uphill putt toward a dicey pin. He drained the putt to go to 2-under.
The par-5 16th started with a drive into the rough, which Huang laid up before going up-and-down from 90 yards to finish the trifecta.
McNealy's only blemish came on the par-5 first hole, on which he scratched out a bogey. He was 4-under through the next 17 holes, including back-to-back birdies after the turn on holes 10 and 11.
Brandon Wu eagled the par-5 seventh during his round of 1-under, good for seventh. Viraat Badhwar had bookend birdies for a 3-over 73, and Isaiah Salinda had a pair of birdies to finish at 4-over.