SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – For the first time since 2016, the Stanford men's golf team has produced back-to-back victories.
After pulling away for an 18-stroke win two weeks ago on its home course at The Goodwin, the No. 21 Cardinal followed up with a six-shot triumph on Wednesday in the 73rd Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo Golf Club. Stanford has recorded 11 team triumphs in the Western dating back to 1947.
Additionally, senior Isaiah Salinda captured his first collegiate crown, becoming the eighth Cardinal medalist at Pasatiempo. He birdied the par-3 18th hole in regulation to force a sudden death playoff with Sean Yu of host San Jose State, then beat him on the fifth playoff hole by sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th green.
Cardinal senior Brandon Wu claimed his first college title at The Goodwin.
"Our team definitely made their share of birdies the last two days," Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf Conrad Ray said. "This team just keeps plodding along and I'm really proud of them. Everybody stepped up and made some great shots when it mattered."
Ray was thrilled for Salinda, who won the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship and reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach last summer.
"He's had a great career at Stanford and it's special for him," Ray said. "Especially coming at this time of the year."
Stanford caught fire the last two rounds in the 13-team tournament on the famed Alistair MacKenzie layout. For the second day in a row, it boasted the low team total, combining for a 10-under 340 to finish at 10-under 1,040 for the three-day event. Cal claimed second at 1,046.
Salinda began the final round with a three-stroke advantage and maintained it until the back nine. After falling two shots off the pace, he birdied 15 and 16 to regain a share of the lead, bogeyed 17, then stiffed his tee shot at the short but testy par-3 18th, where he calmly holed a testy, four-foot, right-to-left birdie putt.
Wu erupted for eight, last-day birdies and fired a 65. He was one of three Stanford players to break par. Junior David Snyder also caught fire on the back side with five birdies and fashioned a 66, while junior Henry Shimp added a 68. Freshman Daulet Tulebayev contributed a 71 and sophomore Nate Menon shot 73.
Wu and Shimp concluded a 1-under 209 and tied for 11th, Snyder wound up at 2-over 212 and knotted for 17th, Tuleubayev wound up at 4-over 214 and tied for 24th, and Menon finished at 218 and tied for 47th.
Playing as individuals, freshman Freddie Lee closed with a 69 and tied for 17th, and freshman Ethan Ng added a 70 to share 47th.
Stanford resumes competition next Monday through Wednesday at the Pac-12 Championships at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore.
