Rob Grube Captures First Canadian Tour Title

In a wire-to-wire performance Rob Grube (2008) captured his first career Canadian Professional Golf Tour title this past Sunday in the Riviera Nayarit Classic in Nayarit, Mexico. Grube finished a week in which he held at least a share of the lead after each round in dramatic fashion by holing a 25 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to seal a one shot victory over Lucas Lee of Brazil. Grube blistered the course with rounds of 64, 66, 68, 68 for a 22 under par total of 266. It was the first win for a Stanford alum on the Canadian Tour since Jim Seki (2003) took the 2005 Northern California Classic. For the full story please click here.

Also competing were Jim Seki (2003) and Daniel Lim (2009). Seki finished T43 after rounds of 70, 70, 71, 71 for a four day total of 282. Lim continued his struggles by missing the cut after consecutive rounds of 76. For complete results please click here.

Cardinal on the Canadian Tour

Stanford Alums Jim Seki (2003), Rob Grube (2008 - pictured) and Daniel Lim (2009) opened their 2010 play on The Canadian Professional Golf Tour south of the border at the Corona Mazatlan Mexican PGA Championship in Mazatlan, Mexico. After an opening round of 74, Rob Grube strung together three under par rounds of 68, 67 and 71 for a four-day total of 280 and T10 finish. Jim Seki (78, 74) and Daniel Lim (76, 78) struggled early in the tournament and did not recover to make the cut. Complete results can be found here.

All three remain in Mexico this week for the Riviera Nayarit Classic Presented by Corona Lite in Nayarit, Mexico. Play begins Thursday April 22 as Rob looks to continue his strong play and Jim and Daniel hope to build some momentum early in the 2010 Canadian Tour season. You may follow their progress on www.cantour.com.

Hall of Famer Warren Berl passes at age 89

The following notice was published in the SF Chronicle's online SF Gate. Included is an online guest book where condolences for the family and remembrances can be shared. Some of his contributions to the Stanford men's golf team can be found here.


Warren Harry Berl August 24, 1920 - Nov. 22, 2009 Warren passed away peacefully at his home in San Francisco on November 22. Warren was a third-generation San Franciscan. He attended Galileo High School where he was captain of the golf team. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He graduated from Stanford University in 1942. He was a member of the 1939 and 1941 NCAA Championship teams. In 1939 he was the Individual Conference Champion and NCAA Individual runner up. Warren was elected to the Stanford Hall of Fame for Golf in 1961.

During WWII he served as a Lieutenant on the U.S. Navy destroyer Aaron Ward, which was sunk in Guadalcanal, and the USS Downes. Warren's business career began in 1946 when he joined his father at Edwin D. Berl & Sons, a San Francisco investment firm established by Harry Berl in 1882. They merged with Sutro & Co. in 1957 where he was Chairman and President from 1971-1982 as well as Chairman Emeritus. His leadership at Sutro gained the respect and admiration from all those who worked with him. During his career he was on the Board of Governors of the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, Chairman and Governor of the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, SIA Board Chair and Chairman of the Investment Bankers Assoc.

Active in the community, he was Director of the greater S.F. Chamber of Commerce, Chairman Emeritus Northern California Multiple Sclerosis Society, Honorary Lifetime Director of the Institute on Aging and a Mt. Zion Hospital Board member. He was a member of the Pacific Union Club, The Family Club and Lake Merced Golf and Country Club where he won 7 club championships.

The family would like to give special thanks for the care and devotion from Dr. Jim Davis, Francine, Lou, Hospice by the Bay, Vince, Lin and the staff at 1070. Warren is survived by his loving and devoted wife and best friend of 61 years Aline, his brother John Berl, his devoted children; Douglas and Jane, Cathy and Peter Deutsch and Susan Berl, his adoring grandchildren; Elizabeth, Michael, Natalie, Marion, Aleen, Jason, Shelby and Haley. Aline's love and dedication gave him the support and encouragement he needed to live life to the fullest, an inspiration to us all. His family, friends and community will miss him.

There will be no public service. However, donations in his memory may be made to National M.S. Society Northern California Chapter 1700 Owens St., Ste 190, San Francisco 94158 Berl/Tatum Scholarship c/o Stanford Athletic Department, 641 East Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-6150. Institute on Aging (IOA) 3330 Geary Blvd. San Francisco 94118

Zack Miller earns conditional status on Nationwide Tour in 2010

Zack Miller ('07) tied for 90th at the PGA Tour's final stage of qualifying school (Q-School) in a field of 152 players. The final stage was held at Bear Lakes CC in West Palm Beach over 6 rounds from Dec 2-7. Zack had rounds of 75-71-72-72-73-70, to finish 1-over par.

The low 25 finishers and ties earned PGA Tour cards, while the next 52 players earned fully exempt status on the Nationwide Tour for 2010 for the first 12 events. Zack was included in the remaining finishers who earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, also for the first 12 events. After 12 events, there will be a re-shuffling of status of the players based on 2010 play.

Complete results can be found here ---

San Rafael's Zack Miller ('07) goes for PGA Tour card at Q-school finale

The following article was written by Dave Allen for the Marin Independent Journal about Stanford's former All-American golfer, Zack Miller ('07).

Zack Miller knows he has the physical tools to compete with the best golfers in the world. Now the San Rafael native believes he has the mental focus to take his game all the way to the PGA Tour.

Miller, 25, is the closest he has been to earning his PGA Tour card - the golden ticket every professional golfer dreams of - when he plays in the third and final stage of the Q-school tournament beginning Wednesday at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. The top 25 scorers in the field of more than 150 golfers (which includes some big names like David Duval, Tim Herron and Jesper Parnevik) earn a 2010 card.

"My game has reached a whole new level and it has been about taking control of my emotions on the golf course," said Miller, a 2003 graduate of the Branson School. "I'm not concerned about my score out there. That takes care of itself. I'm hitting the ball great. I'm putting the ball great. These are products of my ability to control my emotions. I'm exciting to get out there and compete."

Miller tuned up for this week's showdown by challenging a couple records on a pair of Marin courses last week. Last Tuesday, he broke his own mark at San Geronimo Golf Course, shooting a 9-under-par 63. He followed that up by tying the course record at Novato's StoneTree Golf Club the next day. Miller carded a 6-under 66 to tie the mark set by Matt Dito, now the club pro at Eagle Vines in Napa.

"He is so hot right now," said Ken Maring, a former PGA caddie who played with Miller during the record-setting round at San Geronimo. "There is no question (he is good enough to play on the PGA Tour). We all knew he was dialed in (last Tuesday). You could see he was in for a special day."

To view the complete article click here.

Zack Miller advances to final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School

Zack Miller ('07) has advanced to the final stage of the PGA Tour's grueling Q-School after making it through 2nd stage qualifying at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, FL. Zack had rounds of 67-69-70-74 for an 8-under 280 total which was the cutline for qualifying for one of the 21 spots (plus ties). No doubt Zack was feeling the pressure of the moment as he ended up double bogeying his final hole, probably feeling as though he had missed his chance to advance.

Here you can find full results for the PGA Tour's Q-School including information about the final stage of qualifying to be played Dec 2-7 at Bear Lakes CC in West Palm Beach, FL. Zack will be one of 132 players competing for spots on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. All players in the final stage will have some status on one of the two tours for the 2010 season.

Three other Cardinal grads made it through first stage qualifying but were not able to advance beyond 2nd round qualifying at three other sites. Jim Seki ('02) finished 6 shots back of the cutline with rounds of 75-71-75-69 while playing at Deerwood GC in Kingwood, TX. Joel Kribel ('99) was 8 shots off the 8-under cutline with rounds of 69-72-74-73 playing at Oak Valley GC in Beaumont, CA. Alex Aragon ('01), who played on the PGA Tour this season but didn't retain his card, had rounds of 74-75-76-72 to tie for 64th at Hombre GC in Panama City Beach, FL.

In first stage qualifying Rob Grube ('08) and Daniel Lim ('09) were unable to advance to 2nd stage play.

Four Cardinal Grads advance to 2nd stage of PGA Q-School

The grueling PGA Tour Q-School finds 4 former Cardinal golfers advancing to the all-important 2nd stage. Joel Kribel, Alex Aragon, Jim Seki and Zack Miller advanced from four different qualifying locations in play from Oct 27-30. Rob Grube and Daniel Lim failed to quality in their first stage qualifying attempts.

Joel Kribel ('99), 4-time All American while at Stanford shot 5-under rounds of 71-73-71-68 to tie for 13th at San Juan Oaks CC in Hollister, CA --- the cut was at 2-under par. Alex Aragon ('01) tied for 22nd on the cut-line of 6 under with rounds of 70-68-70-74 at Lantana GC in Lantana, TX. Jim Seki ('02) was 9-under versus a 7-under cut to tie for 11th with rounds of 73-70-68-68 at Grasslands CC in Lakeland, FL. Zack Miller ('07) tied for 14th at 1 over par versus the 2 over cut with rounds of 72-74-68-75 at Carlton Oaks in Santee, CA.

Rob Grube ('08) tied for 34th at 4-over par versus the 1-under cut with rounds of 75-70-74-72 at Kinderlon Forest GC in Valdosta, GA. Daniel Lim ('09) was 5-over to tie for 49th with rounds of 79-73-70-71 to miss the cut by 7 shots also at San Juan Oaks in Hollister.

Good luck to our 4 Cardinal golfers moving on to all important 2nd stage qualifying to be held Nov 18-21 at various sites across the country.

Complete scoring and second stage fields can be found at the PGA Tour's Q-School website.