Finals-BoundFinals-Bound
Todd Drexler/SESPORTSMEDIA.com
Men's Golf

Finals-Bound

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Stanford will play for the NCAA men's golf championship after capturing two matches on Tuesday at warm and cloudy Blessings Golf Club.
 
The sixth-seeded Cardinal came from behind in the morning to defeat third-seeded Wake Forest, 3-2, as junior David Snyder nailed an eight-foot par putt on the last hole to secure the deciding point. In the afternoon, Stanford never trailed but needed a drama-packed 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th green by freshman Daulet Tulebayev to down second-seeded Vanderbilt, 3-2.  
 
On Wednesday, the Cardinal will tackle fifth-seeded Texas, which top-ranked and defending national champion Oklahoma State, 3-2. 
 


"I think we're all kind of in survival mode with as much golf as we've played, short nights," said Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men's Golf. "I think we'll rely on our fitness. The guys wonder why we're having a third workout on Fridays in January. Now is when it comes to fruition."

Ray and his players will embrace the underdog role and seek the program's ninth NCAA title, the last coming in 2007.

"Sometimes you get a little caught up in the drama of playing another team with everything going on," he said. "I guess my message to my guys is going to be, 'Lets play some quality golf, hit the ball on the fairway, hit it on the green and see what happens."

Ray coached the 2007 squad and played on he 1994 NCAA-winning team.

"It means a ton," said Ray of returning to the final.

Ranked 12th, the Cardinal entered having won its lasts four starts, including the Pac-12 Championships and NCAA Stanford Regional.
  
The Cardinal is appearing in the title match for the 12th time. Stanford finished runner-up to UCLA in 2008, to Oklahoma State in 1995 and to Houston in 1957 – all in stroke play format.
 
For much of the morning Tuesday, it appeared Stanford's season might end.
 
The Cardinal led early, then lost momentum midway through the front nine. At one point, Stanford trailed in four of five matches and was on the ropes. Senior Brandon Wu was the only player with a comfortable advantage.

 


Then it switched. Senior Isaiah Salinda fell 4-down to Eugenio Chacarra after nine holes, then rolled in a long birdie putt at the par-4 first hole (No. 10 in the match) to win the hole. He won the next five holes to take command.
 
"Sometimes it just takes one putt to drop," Ray said. "He made that and didn't look back. Isaiah had that look in his eye and it was fun to see a few putts drop."
 


Snyder was the man of the moment. After making a scrambling par at the ninth hole, he was bear-hugged by Ray and engulfed by his teammates.
 
"I just trusted what I've been doing all spring and fed off our guys," Snyder said after his 1-up win against Lee Detmer. "Just wanted to make the putt for them. It was awesome."
 

 
Said Ray, "Really proud of our guys. They hung in there and were down most of the day. That back nine they really turned it around."
 
Against Vanderbilt, Salinda led off and maintained his hot hand against Patrick Martin. Salinda birdied two of the first three holes to set the pace and was 3-under and 3-up after nine.
 
Salinda and Wu rolled to early victories, but the win wasn't easy. Vanderbilt won a point and Tuleubayev's 4-up advantage after 13 holes against Harrison Ott dwindled to one heading to the last hole.
 
Tuleubayev piped a good drive and flushed a 5-iron at the par-4 18th. Just outside of Ott, he stroked a perfect putt to seal the win. Tuleubayev credited teammate Nate Menon for helping him with his putting each day before competition.


Ray called Tulebayev's approach at 18 one of the three best he's seen given the circumstances. Big compliment, given Tiger Woods was his former teammate.

Ray also steadied his freshman, urging him to enjoy the moment.
 
"Coach Ray helped me turn that pressure into excitement," said Tuleubayev. "It was an opportunity for attention and I love showing off."

 
Due to the threat of inclement weather, the start of Wednesday's final has been moved up to 4:45 a.m. PT. Golf Channel will provide live coverage from 5:30-9:30 a.m. PT and will replay it from 1-5 p.m. PT.
 
Live scoring is available at GoStanford.com.
 
Quarterfinal Results
 
Stanford 3, Wake Forest 2
 
Patrick def. Shimp, 1-up
 
Snyder def. Detmer, 1-up
 
Salinda def. Chacarro, 3 and 1
 
Wu def. Bae, 4 and 3
 
Young def. Tuleubayev, 5 and 4
 
Semifinal Results
 
Stanford 3, Vanderbilt 2
 
Salinda def. Martin, 3 and 2
 
Augenstein def. Shimp, 2-up
 
Wu def. Davenport, 4 and 3
 
Tuleubayev def. Ott, 1-up
 
Gordon def. Snyder, 1-up