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The toughest playing conditions of the tournament brought out the best from the Pac-12's top golfers Sunday, as Arizona State's Jon Rahm rose to the individual title.
Stanford's team was right there, all along.
Rahm, the world's No. 1-ranked amateur, closed with a 3-under-par 68 to come from six strokes behind and win by four shots at The Country Club of Salt Lake City. Stanford remained steady as rival California fell apart in the wind, with the Cardinal earning their third straight championship.
The host Utah Utes entered the tournament with local knowledge and modest expectations. After showing some good signs in the middle of the event, the Utes faded badly in the final round and finished 12th for the fifth year in a row. Brandon Kida, the Utes' No. 1 player, posted a 79 after shooting 68-69 in the previous two rounds, and the team had to count an 82.
"I think we're all a little disappointed, obviously," said Utah coach Randall McCracken, who's stepping down after 12 years. "We're not very good in this event, as history has shown. But the program's making strides, and I think we're leaving it in a good spot for the new guy."
Then again, the Utes will have to wait until 2028 for another turn as host, while trying to make any climb in a conference that Stanford coach Conrad Ray labeled "as strong as any you'll find in college golf."
Prior to this three-year reign, the Cardinal had gone since 1994 — when Ray's teammates included Tiger Woods — without winning a conference title. Stanford's consistency and depth prevailed at The Country Club, where Sunday's scoring average of 75.7 was more than two strokes higher than any previous round. The Cardinal's highest final-round score was 75.
That explains how Stanford pulled away to a 29-shot victory, in the format that counts five of six players' scores in each round. All six players did their parts during the tournament, with David Boote tying for third individually. Maverick McNealy, last year's Pac-12 medalist, finished with a 72 to place sixth. Oregon's Aaron Wise, another highly ranked player, posted a 70 to make the top 10.
Rahm was an even better example of a top-tier golfer who distinguished himself Sunday. He birdied four of the first eight holes (starting on the back nine, for club members), but then made a bogey and a double bogey and learned he was four strokes behind Cal's K.K. Limbhasut, the 54-hole leader.
Rahm was encouraged, if anything. He had teed off about an hour before Limbhasut, based on team scores, and knew the combination of the conditions and pressure could take a toll. "Especially if I made a couple birdies and they told him I was catching up, it would make it a lot harder," Rahm said.
That's what happened. Rahm had two birdies and six pars to finish, while Limbhasut bogeyed Nos. 14 and 15 and then hit his tee shot out of bounds by inches on the par-4 No. 16, leading to a triple bogey. Limbhasut posted a 79 to tie for third, one stroke behind runner-up Jordan Gumberg of Arizona — after opening three straight 66s.
Rahm, who's from Spain, intends to turn pro after the U.S. Open in June. The Pac-12's top teams will compete in the NCAA Regionals in mid-May.
Twitter: @tribkurt —
Storylines
R Stanford claims a third straight Pac-12 men's golf championship, finishing 29 strokes ahead of runner-up California. For the fifth consecutive year as a Pac-12 member, Utah finishes 12th.
• Arizona State's Jon Rahm rallies from six strokes behind to win medalist honors with a closing 68 at The Country Club of Salt Lake City.
• The course and the club operation earn good reviews from visiting players and coaches as Utah takes its host turn in the conference's 12-year rotation.