SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico – Viraat Badhwar’s 4-under 67 paced Stanford during the first of three rounds at the Querencia Cabo Collegiate, as the smooth-swinging sophomore is tied for second among individuals. Badhwar is three shots behind South Florida’s Rigel Fernandez (-7) and tied with three other competitors.
Stanford’s 2-under 282 put the squad in third along with Washington. South Florida (-8) and Florida State (-9) lead the 14-team field.
Badhwar was the only Cardinal in the red at the par-71 course, and went bogey-free during his impressive round. Badhwar carded back-to-back birdies on holes six and seven, adding two more birdies on 13 and 16.
Tied for 18th is David Boote, who was even-par at 71. Boote had birdies on four, five and 18, with one-shot setbacks on six, 14 and 16.
All five of Stanford’s student-athletes finished in the top-50, including Franklin Huang (72), Jeffrey Swegle (72) and Maverick McNealy (74). Huang had six birdies and was 3-under on the back.
McNealy, who started his round on the sixth hole, notched a team-best seven birdies, though suffered a 10 on the par-5 fourth. He was 4-under with five birdies on the back nine.
The three-day tournament resumes Monday with live results available at GoStanford.com.