Maverick McNealy of Stanford shot 4-under-par 67, the low score of a windy day, to grab a share of medalist honors with Washington teammates Corey Pereira and Chris Babcock in the Gifford Collegiate Championship at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad.
McNealy, a junior from Portola Valley, Calif., claimed his third title of the season and ninth of his career, moving to within two of the Cardinal record of 11 shared by Tiger Woods and Patrick Rodgers.
“Neat for Mav,” said coach Conrad Ray, who played on Stanford teams with Woods and Notah Begay III. “He played great today. He’s gotten to the point now where he knows how to manage his game on a tough day like that.
“He even talked to the team last night in our meeting about how you have to stay patient and trust that you’re going to make a couple putts. Just hang in there.”
McNealy, No. 1 in the World Amateur Rankings and No. 3 in Golfweek’s Men’s College Rankings, holed a 40-foot par-saving putt at No. 17 before rolling in a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to finish at 72-70-67–209, 4-under.
Pereira closed at 69-68-72–209, while Babcock wound up at 71-69-69–209.
Washington captured the team title at 285-275-286–846, 6-under, followed by third-ranked Stanford at 285-277-293–855, San Diego State at 290-282-293–865, UCLA at 287-288-291–866, and Arkansas at 290-289-289–868.
