Giovanni BinaghiGiovanni Binaghi
Stanford Athletics
Men's Golf

Binaghi Leads Cardinal at Colonial

Stanford freshman slots in the top-40 heading into final round of the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational presented by Charles Schwab

FORT WORTH, Texas — Giovanni Binaghi’s first round 69 highlighted a solid outing for the Stanford men’s golf team as the Cardinal battled the heat and 36-hole marathon at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational presented by Charles Schwab on Monday. Binaghi served as the lone Cardinal to shoot under-par on the challenging course as Stanford sits 15th after two rounds of action. 

Binaghi led the charge for Stanford through the first 18 holes, rifling a 1-under, 69 card thanks to two birdies and an eagle on his final hole of the round. The freshman, who had earned his fourth sub-70 round of the season, then battled through the remaining 18 holes of the day, securing two more birdies. Binaghi leads the Cardinal quintet through 36 holes, slotting in a tie for 38th overall at 4-over par. 

Slotting behind the Cardinal freshman in the overall leaderboard, Jay Leng had a strong ending to the afternoon, firing off a 2-over, 72 during the second round to counter a 4-over first round. Leng, who mustered two birdies in the first round, tallied six during the second round to even-out a tough opening stretch to start the second round. Currently, the Cardinal junior slots in a tie for 51st overall at 6-over. 

Edan Cui and Carlo Roman also shot well for Stanford as the two sit neck-and-neck on the overall leaderboard. Cui, who battled through a tough stretch in the first round, grabbed three of his five birdies during the second round to half his first-round scorecard. Meanwhile, Roman snatched three birdies during the day while maintaining 13 holes at par to place tied with Cui in 67th overall at 9-over for the tournament. 

Serving as the reserve score for Monday's second round, Cooper Stearns kept pace for a majority of Monday’s 36-hole marathon, tallying one birdie on the day in the opening round. Stearns, who slotted a 5-over, 75 through the first round, sits tied for 77th overall heading into Tuesday’s third round. 

Stanford is back in action to complete the third round at Colonial Country Club on Tuesday, September 29. Cooper Stearns leads off for the Cardinal from hole 10 at 6:48 a.m. PT.