Stanford Places Fourth in Season Opener

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Daniel Zou’s tournament-low 14-under finish highlighted a successful third round at the Bombs Darts Birds Collegiate as the Cardinal wrapped up competition at its season opener with a fourth place finish at 37-under. Alongside Zou, multiple Cardinal set career records while Stanford’s newcomers finished strong in their Cardinal debuts.  

Zou posted a new career tournament-low at 14-under with three-straight rounds in the 60s, ending his two-day stay in Arizona with a 5-under, 67 card. Zou, who shot a bogey-free 67 on Monday, turned in eight birdies during Tuesday’s final round, securing his tournament-low by two shots in his tournament debut with the Cardinal. The junior earned his sixth collegiate top 10 finish as he placed tied for fourth. 

Slotting second overall on the Cardinal through 54 holes, Cooper Stearns earned his best collegiate tournament outing, ending the tournament at 7-under having earned three birdies as part of a 1-under performance on Tuesday. With a 5-under, 67 on Monday’s second round, Stearns earned his first under-par finish for a tournament as he ended the two-day event tied for 29th overall. 

Edan Cui also shot well on Tuesday despite serving as Stanford’s reserve score. Having earned one birdie during Tuesday’s second round as part of a 5-over third round, the Cardinal sophomore ended his two-day stint at 5-under for the tournament which ranked third on the team. Cui finished the season opener tied for 39th and tied his career-low round on Monday with a 6-under, 66. 

The Stanford supporting cast on Tuesday also featured two newcomers as Giovanni Binaghi and Judd Jirovsky both placed second on the team during the final round with a pair of 2-under, 70 cards. Binaghi, who earned a career-low round on Tuesday, amassed five birdies across a seven hole stretch leading into the final few holes of the afternoon as the freshman ended the tournament at 3-under par and slotted T51st overall. 

Jirovsky, meanwhile, turned in his first under-par outing in a Stanford uniform with his 2-under, 70 on Tuesday, earning six birdies in a back-and-forth third round. Jirovsky finished his Stanford debut at 2-over for the tournament and inside the top 75 with a T74 finish. 

Stanford is back in action in just over a week as the Cardinal heads out to The Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club from September 18-20.