Press Release issued by Reno-Tahoe Open
STANFORD STANDOUT ROB GRUBE TO PLAY
IN LEGENDS AT SPARKS MARINA RENO-TAHOE OPEN
Four-Time All-American Granted Sponsor’s Exemption for July 28-Aug. 3 Event
RENO, Nev. (July 19, 2008) – Rob Grube, who led Stanford University to the 2007 NCAA golf championship, was granted a sponsor’s exemption into the 2008 Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, Tournament Director Michael Stearns said today.
Grube received the first exemption into the July 28-Aug. 3 PGA TOUR event at the stunning Montrêux Golf & Country Club. Other exemptions will be announced in the coming days.
"Rob’s talent on the golf course is equaled by his class and demeanor off the course," Tournament Director Michael Stearns said. "He is an accomplished golfer, with an NCAA championship and numerous individual titles and awards, and he’s someone you’re going to be seeing quite a bit over the next few years. We’re proud to have him competing in our tournament because he represents everything good about the game of golf. Coach (Conrad) Ray is getting the word out for all Stanford University alumni to come out and support Rob in his first PGA TOUR start."
Grube join major champions in the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open field: Bob Tway (1987 PGA Championship) and Mark Brooks (1996 PGA Championship) along with LRTO past Champions Notah Begay III, Will Mackenzie, UNR fan favorite Kirk Triplett and Las Vegas resident Chris Riley.
"I am so excited to compete in the Legends Reno Tahoe Open,” Grube said. “With this being my first PGA Tour event, it’s almost like a home match for me as it is just up the road from the Bay Area. I have watched the tournament on television in the past and can see that Montrêux is a gorgeous and challenging course. To compete against some of best players on the greatest Tour in the world is a dream come true for me.”
Grube is the latest in the line of accomplished Stanford golfers, a line that began with standout amateur Charles Seaver (the father of baseball Hall-of-Famer Tom Seaver) and Lawson Little, continued through Bob Rosberg and Tom Watson and culminated with Tiger Woods, who arrived in 1995. The year before Woods arrived on the Farm, inaugural LRTO Champion Begay, Casey Martin and current Stanford Coach Conrad Ray carried Stanford to the NCAA championship.
"Rob will go down in the history books as one as Stanford's all time greats,” Ray said. “He was the catalyst for the turn around of our program the last few years and was a true pleasure to coach. His work ethic and approach to the game will set our team standards for years to come."
Grube’s standards were lofty, to say the least. Even with those accomplished alums behind him, Grube was only Stanford’s second four-time, All-American. He was also a two-time Academic All-American (2007-08) and was a finalist for the Byron Nelson Award this spring, which is presented to a graduating senior with an outstanding academic and athletic career throughout college.
Grube turned pro after graduating this spring. He wasted little time establishing himself, finishing fourth in his first professional tournament – the Canadian Tour’s Saskatchewan Open – where he opened with rounds of 63-66.
This spring, Grube captained Stanford to a runner-up finish in defense of the 2007 NCAA title the Cardinal won. As a senior, Grube finished third in both the NCAA Western Region and the Pac-10 Championships.
The year before, Grube was the centerpiece of Stanford’s first national championship since 1994. Grube finished third at the NCAA’s, won two collegiate tournaments, had a stroke average below par and 22 of his 41 rounds were par or better.
As a sophomore in 2006, Grube was the Pac-10 Player of the Year. He won two of his five collegiate tournaments, finished with a stroke average below par and won the Illinois State Amateur. And as a freshman, Grube won the NCAA Western Region and finished fifth at the NCAA Championships.
The 23-year-old Grube is a native of Illinois.
For more information on this year’s Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, including ticket sales, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LegendsRenoTahoeOpen.com or contact the tournament office at 775-322-3900.
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