WOODSIDE, Calif. – Cal edged Stanford on the second hole of a sudden death playoff Thursday to win the inaugural Big Match at sun-splashed Menlo Country Club.
The unique format pitted six mixed teams from each school in fourball competition and was a showcase for many of the top college players in the country, adding golf to the storied rivalry.
Each team won two matches and split two others, resulting in a 3-3 deadlock. By prior agreement between the coaches, it was decided the top squad from each school would play off for the crown.
Cindy Oh from Cal birdied the par-4 first hole, but senior Isaiah Salinda from Stanford matched her to extend the match. Oh holed an 11-foot birdie putt at the par-4 18th to decide the outcome.
"Tough to lose, but terrific day all-around," said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Golf. "We are grateful to Menlo Country Club for hosting this great event. Wonderful competition and camaraderie and I hope we can do it again."
Results
Match 1 - Nate Menon / Kelsey Zeng (Stanford) def. Sofia Lundell / Marianne Li (Cal), 3&2.
Match 2 - Henry Shimp / Maddie Chou (Stanford) and KK Limbhasut / Elena Arias Quiros (Cal), halved.
Match 3 - Ashwin Arasu / Mika Liu (Stanford) and Ben Doyle / Amina Wolf (Cal), halved.
Match 4 - James Song / Katherine Zhu (Cal) def.
David Snyder / Ziyi Wang (Stanford), 4 &3.
Match 5 - Brandon Wu / Albane Valenzuela (Stanford) def. Seb Crampton / Maria Herraez Galvez (Cal), 3 and 2.
Match 6 - Collin Morikawa / Cindy Oh (Cal) def.
Isaiah Salinda / Andrea Lee (Stanford), 5&4.
Cal wins, 4&3.
