WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – These Stanford boys are sneaky, aren’t they?
It’s only a matter of hours before this year’s version of the NCAA Championship kicks off at a currently rainy and cold Kampen Course, and I haven’t heard one person make a Cardinal call.
In fact, I think we’ve all probably forgetten what one sounds like.
It’s been a year now since Stanford marched out of Colonial Williamsburg with the national title, and now no one seems to think this team has a chance to repeat history.
I know it will be difficult for Stanford, currently No. 6 in the
Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. In the grand scheme of athletic conclusions, this is an atypical title defense. There are 30 teams here, which is a lot more than two.
But that’s exactly what makes it so easy to hide.
“I kinda like it,” said coach Conrad Ray, whose team charged off the course Tuesday afternoon and into the team van as NCAA officials watched downpours spread over the radar.
Just like that, Stanford was gone. Into a van, and under the radar.
Last man in the buggy was freshman Sihwan Kim, who sprinted from the player’s tent amid a downpour. He crawled inside fairly dry, which is important when you consider his current status as team poster boy.
Kim, who hasn’t slowed down much since winning the 2003 U.S. Junior as a 15-year-old, is currently 10th in the
Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings, a fact that may or may not have snuck up on you.
Kim is a big name. He’s just been lost among some bigger ones this season.
Just like his team.
We’ve been talking Rickie Fowler, Jamie Lovemark, Kevin Chappell, Michael Thompson. Not Kim. We’ve been talking Georgia, USC, Alabama, Oklahoma State. Not Stanford.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a big deal if Stanford didn’t have a picture of last year’s national championship trophy on the cover of its media guide.
So it makes sense that under this radar, there is also understanding.
“It’s a result of kind of the way we’ve gone this year,” says Ray, whose team has won only once this season, six less times than last year.
That victory came in February at the UH-Hilo Invitational (where Kim also won), one of two top-10 and eight top-5 finishes in 11 tournaments this year. Two weeks ago at the West Regional, Stanford finished sixth.
“I think we’ve had a pretty good year, but nothing that anyone is going to stand up and cheer about,” said Ray.
Even after hoisting the trophy last year, Stanford’s celebration was anything but grandiose. There were smiles, but no screams. This Cardinal does not ruffle, which is one reason Kim has fit in so quickly.
“I really don’t care much,” says Kim, of his lack of hype this season.
“Now I just have expectations for myself to play a little better than before. I feel like I’ve learned and improved a lot since I’ve come to Stanford. I don’t really care if people talk about me or not, it’s just more about myself.”
Kim could win this week, which would make more sense than you probably think. The Kampen Course is long and relatively narrow, considering the rough has grown past 5 inches in places. That is without taking into consideration everything that falls out of this overcast Midwestern sky this week.
Kim hits fairways. That is the phrase that pays, according to many players who have gone through 36 holes of practice. He is also putting well, which showed in his back-nine 31 to close out last week’s West Regional, where he finished sixth.
“If you look at his stats, those are the two best things. Especially this week, those are really at a premium,” says Ray. “So I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a great week.”
Two Stanford golfers have won individual championships: Sandy Tatum (1942) and Tiger Woods (1996). Kim, who along with his teammates had dinner at Woods’ Isleworth estate last fall, says he isn’t afraid to join that list.
“Yeah, I mean, I definitely have a chance,” said Kim.
He also has recent history, which suggests the title is on the verge of becoming a freshman tradition, following victories the last two years by first-years Jonathan Moore and Jamie Lovemark. (Certainly Fowler should also factor in that regard.)
Of course, freshman like Kim don’t exactly act like freshman. His record this year includes eight top-5s, and not a single finish outside the top 11. He is a freshman in the No. 1 slot on a defending national champion, leading a team with a senior named Rob Grube, who has already been here, done this.
Youth, meet experience. And vice versa.
“He’s just got a lot of game, you can tell he’s been in the spotlight before,” says Ray.
Kim keeps things light. It’s his easygoing approach, the fact that “golf isn’t the total end all for him,” that Ray says is his huge asset. Fortunately, when he steps onto the golf course he’s also “super, super competitive,” which is a big reason Stanford could sneak away with back-to-back titles before anyone even realizes what’s happened.
“It’s been pretty good so far, pretty fun,” says Kim. “I think that’s what it’s all about.”
No big deal if you haven’t noticed.
Posted: 5/27/2008
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