CARLSBAD, Calif. — Jay Leng’s strong front nine finish highlighted a solid round for the No. 15 Stanford men’s golf program as the Cardinal finished the first round of stroke play at the NCAA Championships on Friday. Stanford, which shot 3-over par, slots into a tie for 12th entering Saturday’s second round.
Leng led the way for the Cardinal, slotting into the top 20 overall with a 2-under, 70 card on Friday with an exceptional front nine. The sophomore began his afternoon with one birdie along the back nine as he entered the turn at even-par before snagging three along the front nine to end the day. Earning his 20th round at par or better, Leng birdied holes two, six, and eight to slot in a tie for 15th overall heading into Saturday’s second round.
Behind Leng, senior Dean Greyserman saved four strokes during the round including an eagle on hole six that pushed him into the top 40 overall. Greyserman hit two birdies to counter some early trouble along the back nine before turning in a 35 card on the front nine as he ended the day at even-par and in a tie for 35th through the first round.
Behind Leng and Greyserman, Edan Cui also shot well in his first NCAA Finals appearance, turning in a 1-over, 73. Cui rifled two birdies on the evening while playing solid golf for a majority of the round. Entering the turn at even par, the freshman nabbed a birdie on hole five to keep Stanford well into contention heading into the second round as he finished tied for 57th.
Nathan Wang, meanwhile, earned three birdies on the afternoon, grabbing two on an back-and-forth back nine. Wang followed suit with his third birdie on hole four after going up-and-down on hole three following a tough tee shot. Wang enters Saturday’s second round at 4-over.
Ethan Gao also did well to battle the course through Friday’s first round, rattling off two birdies on the back nine. Gao, who birdied holes 11 and 15, started strong before hitting trouble just before the turn that forced the junior to place as Stanford’s reserve score.
Stanford is back in action for the second round of the NCAA Championship tomorrow, May 30, with Ethan Gao teeing off from hole one at 8:20 a.m. PT.