Vilips Fires Bogey-Free First Round

CARLSBAD, Calif. - Senior Karl Vilips went bogey-free to open stroke play at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships, turning in a 3-under 69 performance to finish the day third on the individual leaderboard. Stanford finished the day tied for 12th in the team standings. 

I felt my round was disciplined and professional," VIlips said. "I haven't been playing that well as of late, so I really concentrated on staying even keel throughout the round." 

With Omni La Costa projected to be a challenging test for golfers in this weekend's NCAA Championships, Vilips' acknowledged his ability to stay in the fairways and find greens in regulation proved to be a difference-maker in Friday's round. 

"I thought my game management was excellent today. My goal was to hit every green in regulation and I felt like I succeeded," the senior added. "The pin placements were tough. You have to stay disciplined here or things can change in a hurry." 

The rest of Vilips' teammates found the course to be a bit more difficult during Friday's opening round as each of Stanford's remaining four golfers finished the day over par, contributing to a 9-over team effort after one round. 

Seniors Michael Thorbjornsen and Barclay Brown posted identical 2-over 74 rounds on Friday, each tallying three birdies, three bogeys, and a double-bogey in their first trips around the North Course.

Jake Beber-Frankel and Ethan Gao both struggled in their opening round, combining for fourteen bogeys and two double-bogeys with only a single birdie a piece en route to their 8-over 80 scorecards after Friday's play.

Stanford returns to action tomorrow afternoon with tee times beginning at 12:22 p.m. PT. The Cardinal will continue it's second round of the tournament alongside pairing partners Purdue and Wake Forest. 

 

NCAA Men's Golf Championships (Omni La Costa North Course, par 70)

Italics - Non-scoring round