Joseph Bramlett, Stanford Freshman and winner of The Puerto Rico Classic

Monday Mar 19

David Gonzales / Stanford Athletics

Stanford golf ranked No. 1

Local players help Cardinal rise in polls

By Travis Perkins / Daily News Staff Writer

After taking a No. 2 national ranking into the USC Collegiate Invitational, the Stanford men's golf team has propelled itself to No. 1 in three polls. Stanford obtained No. 1 rankings in the World/Nike Golf Coaches Poll, Golf Week and Golf Stat.

A major reason is that the Cardinal, which won its last NCAA championship in 1994, have taken five of eight tournaments.

That list includes The Gopher Invitational, The Prestige, CordeValle Collegiate, UH Hilo Intercollegiate and most recently the USC Collegiate at North Ranch C.C. in West Lake, where the team won the 30th annual event on March 6. Stanford was also the only team to finish under par with minus-4 strokes.

The team features team captain Zack Miller, ranked in the top 10 with three first-place finishes, last year's Pac-10 Co-Golfer of the Year Rob Grube and Matt Savage, who has the lowest stroke average in competition for the team.

"It feels great to be No. 1," Miller said. "It has been our goal since Day 1 of the season. The key now is to keep the momentum rolling on through the regular season and into the postseason. The guys have never worked harder. It's definitely a good time to be a part of Stanford golf."

"It's been a highlight (year)," said Stanford head coach Conrad Ray, in his third year. "Every week we are competing for first."

However, the upper classmen aren't doing it alone. Stanford receives plenty of help from its strong freshmen class, which includes locals Joseph Bramlett, who hails from St. Francis, and Jordan Cox, an alumnus of Serra.

"They have both helped our team a lot," Ray said. "(Cox) hasn't played as much as he would like...and has had trouble qualifying for the lineup, but this is a pretty strong lineup one through eight."

Bramlett, on the other hand, has seen plenty of fairways since his arrival at Stanford and
has faired well on the links as of late.

"He's played very well and is a top freshman, which is good to see," Ray said.

At the Puerto Rico Classic, held at River Rio Grande, Bramlett shot a 209 and finished seven strokes under par to pick up his first tourney win. He also finished seventh at the USC Collegiate.

"We have had a bunch of guys kicking in," Ray said. "I am just glad to get them back in competition."

Sophomore Daniel Lim, a product of Bellarmine, chipped in some support at the USC Collegiate as well.

"He is about our No. 4 or 5," Ray said. "He had a good tournament at USC."

Lim ended the tournament with a 216, a mark that put him in a five-way tie with Savage for 15th.

Stanford now sets its sights on the Oregon Duck Invitational, a tournament that will be held March 26-27 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene.

After the Cardinal return from their Oregon road trip, they won't have to travel far to prepare for their next tourney.

After all, it's taking place in their backyard.

From April 14-15, Stanford fans can catch a glimpse of the team when it competes in the 40th U.S. Intercollegiate, staged at Stanford Golf Course.

"We usually play far away," Ray said. "We always like to play well at home."

And Conrad likes his team's chances.

"We'll see. We have as good of a chance as anyone" he said. "You just never know week to week."