Darkness Delays Friday Finish

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Under-par outings from Jay Leng and Cooper Stearns highlighted a strong day for the Stanford men’s golf team as the Cardinal competed through most of the first two rounds at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational on Friday. Stanford, which shot 8-under overall, sits 13th after darkness forced a truncated second round.  

Leng, who made his season debut for Stanford after missing the first competition of the year as one of the 10 representatives on the United States Walker Cup Team, secured a solid first round with five birdies and an eagle to slot in the top 10. Leng, who rattled off a bogey-free back nine in round one, ended the evening at 5-under overall through 15 holes in the second round as he sits tied for 13th overall heading into Saturday. 

Cooper Stearns also shot well on Friday, turning in his third collegiate sub-70 round with a 2-under, 68 through the first round. Stearns mustered four birdies during the first round while grabbing one birdie through 15 holes in the abbreviated second round. Stearns sits at 2-under overall and tied for 44th heading into Saturday.

Stanford’s youth kept the Cardinal in contention through Friday’s marathon with Edan Cui, Carlo Roman and Giovanni Binaghi keeping stride with the field. Roman earned his collegiate debut on Friday, grabbing a 2-over, 72 in the first round before darkness closed his card in the second round where he sits at 1-under. Roman currently slots tied with Cui for 44th at 1-over. Meanwhile, Cui’s Friday ended with two birdies - both in the first round - as he sits at 1-over through 12 holes in the second round. 

Binaghi served as Stanford’s reserve score in the second round at 3-over after earning his second collegiate sub-70 round with a 1-under. 69. Binaghi slots in at 2-over heading into Saturday. Stanford’s individual Daniel Zou also shot well, battling through the first round with three birdies and an eagle for an even-par, 70 before ending the night at 2-over through 15 holes in the second round. Zou sits tied alongside Binaghi at 2-over for the tournament overall. 

Stanford is back out for the final round of the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational on Saturday, September 19. The Cardinal resumes second round action at 5:30 a.m. PT before teeing off for the third round at 8 a.m. PT.