OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – The three-day Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational began Friday with the Stanford men’s golf team finishing its first 18 holes three shots off the lead.
Stanford shot a 14-over 294, tied with host Illinois while trailing Florida State (293) and leader Virginia Tech (291).
The competition at Olympia Fields Country Club, which played long at 7,290 yards in cold and drizzly weather, resumes Saturday. Live results will be available at GoStanford.com.
Maverick McNealy is 1-over and tied for third on the par-70 course. McNealy is coming off his first career victory at last week’s Southwestern Intercollegiate. The sophomore was 2-under through his front nine.
Jim Liu’s 72 put him in a tie for sixth. Patrick Grimes (74) and Viraat Badhwar (77) rounded out the Cardinal scorers for the day.
Liu was 2-over through the front half and dropped pars on each of his last 10 holes. Grimes stayed even through nine before going 4-over on the back.
Badhwar did not record a par until his 11th hole but played his back nine at even-par.