A 50+ minute podcast with Maverick McNealy talking about his golf career

Enjoy this excellent 50+ minute podcast with Maverick McNearly produced by No Laying Up

Stanford standout, and fresh off his rookie campaign on the Web.com Tour, Maverick McNealy joins to talk about his golf career. From walking on at Stanford, to winning the Haskins Award, and tying Tiger Woods’ and Patrick Rodgers’ Stanford record for wins, to the drama surrounding his decision to turn pro, what he struggled with in 2018, what he learned, and a ton of interesting perspective from a very thoughtful youngster. Hard to believe that Maverick is 22 after listening to this one. Thanks a ton to Mav for the time.

Here's a link to the podcast --- https://nolayingup.com/2018/11/11/nlu-podcast-episode-177-maverick-mcnealy/

Coach Wally Goodwin named to the 2018 Stanford Hall of Fame class joining 8 others

July 2018

STANFORD, Calif. – Eight former student-athletes and one head coach represent the 2018 Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame class.
 
This year's group includes: men's golf coach Wally Goodwin, Kurt Grote from men's swimming, Gabe Jennings from men's track and field, Sara Lowe from synchronized swimming, Erica McLain from women's track and field, Josh Stein from men's gymnastics, Candice Wiggins from women's basketball, Kailee Wong from football, and Felicia Zimmerman from fencing.
 
In addition, long-time groundskeeper Sam McDonald will receive special recognition.
 
The class will be recognized at Stanford's football game against USC on Sept. 8.
 
Wally Goodwin 1987-2000, Men's Golf Coach
 
Goodwin helped revive a struggling program and returned it to national prominence by recruiting Tiger Woods, Christian Cevaer, Notah Begay III, Casey Martin, Joel Kribel, Steve Burdick, William Yanagisawa and current head coach Conrad Ray. Goodwin led the Cardinal to the 1994 NCAA title, its first since 1953, by edging Texas on its home course. Stanford finished second in 1995, losing in a playoff to Oklahoma State. A two-time national Coach of the Year (1992, 1994) and two-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Goodwin guided the Cardinal to a pair of conference championships and produced seven All-Americans. Prior to arriving at Stanford, he spent six years as the head golf coach at Northwestern. Following his retirement from Stanford in 2000, Goodwin returned to coaching and started a Division I program at Northern Colorado (2003-07). In 2014, Stanford renamed the annual Stanford Intercollegiate to The Goodwin in his honor. Goodwin and his wife Nancy live in Idaho and have two sons and four grandchildren.


Here's a link to the full 2018 Stanford Hall of Fame Class
Here's a link to video interview of Coach Wally Goodwin

Remembering the great Sandy Tatum

Sandy Tatum at Stanford | A Love Affair With Golf

Stanford legend, Frank (Sandy) Tatum passed away on June 23, 2017 at the age of 96.  Here's a tribute by Tom Watson shared by the USGA on Mr. Tatum's passing.

Dodge Kemmer '09 pro golf adventures in Asia

Stanford golf alum (2009) Dodge Kemmer  shares his globe trotting pro golf adventures on the Asian tours in this report sent to Coach Ray on August 20th:

As far as off-seasons go, this one has been unusually warm.  After playing 11 events from January thru April, the schedule is pretty sparse until September.  I have been able to play a few; two Asian Tour events (Yeangder TPC in Taipei and King's Cup in Pattaya, Thailand) and two ADTs (Tiafong Open in Taiwan, and the Aboitiz Open in Manila).  However, the last few months are shaping up very well. Starting the first week of September, I will play somewhere around 10 more events to conclude the year.  

First up is the Japan Golf Tour qualifying stage 2 (I'm exempt thru stage 1 by virtue of my Asian Tour card) north of Tokyo Sept 5-9. Next I fly to Germany for first stage of European Tour qschool Sept 13-16.  Then there are at least 3 and hopefully 4 Asian Tour events, possibly beginning in Japan (Osaka) the following week at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup, and continuing with events in Korea, Indonesia, and Macau, to take us through mid-October. (I'll write with more leaderboard links as we get closer!)

In the previous four events I had moments of brilliance and moments that made me want to bang my head into the nearest tree.  At the Yeangder TPC, I calculated that if I had putted my season average from 4- to 8- feet (67.7%), on admittedly tricky greens, I would have won by 2. As it was, I made a mere 28.6%, and finished in tied-26th, 6 shots behind (71-71-70-70= -6).  I doubt if many or any guys putted well, but I only needed my average! 

The next week at the ADT was notable only for Typhoon Nepartak that blanket the island during round 2.  By some bizarre circumstance, our hotel experienced very little rain and even less wind the entire day, while the rest of the island was getting drenched and blown every which way. I missed the cut and got to go home early (only 1 day though- thanks Nepartak...)

After a couple weeks off, I headed to Thailand for the European Tour co-sanctioned Kings Cup.  The course was short and fun, but after my start of -3 thru 12, I never got anything going. Despite making the cut on the number, the weekend was even more of a struggle, and I finished in tied-70th, skyrocketing me to 272nd place on the Race to Dubai (of 273!).

And most recently, I got to play an event at Wack Wack Country Club in the heart of Metro Manila; easily in my top 5 favorite courses, and my favorite in Asia.  I finished tied-13, and flew back that day. Biggest experience of note was my uber taxi ride from the airport, which was $4.00 for a 50-minute journey.  Of course it was only about 5 miles, and that was considered light traffic!

As I mentioned, next up is Japan, and I leave September 3rd, right after watching The Cardinal put the beatdown of the century on K-state!  :)

Thanks again for all your support and enjoy the last few weeks of summer

Dodge

Dodge Finds Form in Asia

Watching my putt lip in on 18 in the final round of Asian Qschool Finals Saturday was a fitting and relieving way to end my two weeks in Thailand and my first trip of the year.  The putt was for eagle (the first one of the year) and a 6-under 65, my best round of the two weeks, to finish at -12 total and 2nd place alone.  It also capped off the nearly-linear trend of improvement through the 8 competitive rounds I played, slowly but surely knocking off the Kansas winter holiday-season rust.

Despite a 74-74 (+6, t46) start to first stage, nasty poison ivy-like, golf-ball size blisters on my ankles, and getting on the wrong bus at 5:30am to the course, I finished with 70-68 for +2 total and qualified for final stage 1-shot clear.  Top 40 and ties in final stage would earn Asian Tour cards for the 2016 season. With the tough side of the draw (hard course in the windy afternoon), I started final stage 68-71 (-3) in a tie for 29th.  Weekend rounds of 68-65 earned 2nd place honors and Asian Tour status for the coming season.  Here is a link with my translated and then translated back quotes: http://www.asiantour.com/2016/01/16/atqs-rd-4-what-they-said-2/

I can expect 12-15 starts, mostly in the fall, and am currently 5th reserve for the Singapore Open next week (featuring Jordan Speith), a $1M purse event to kick off the season.  If I don't get in, I'll play a couple events on the Asian Development Tour leading up to the Bangladesh Open February 10-13.

Ill continue to send tournament links in the days before and also post on facebook and twitter with daily updates.  Thanks for all your support!

-- 

Dodge

Reflections on Q-School from Dodge Kemmer

Just as I was gaining momentum and starting to play consistently well, my season ended abruptly and unexpectedly.  I missed qualifying for the Final Stage of Qschool for the European Tour by 2 shots, finishing -1 for the week when -2 would have been in a playoff and -3 was in safely.  I struggled on the slow greens all week and my late, near-heroic effort of 6 birdies in my last 10 holes (with 4 of the last 5! where was that all week?) was too little too late.  And as if that wasn't enough heartache for one day, my backpack with passport, computer, everything, was stolen out of my car that night.

The American Consulate in Barcelona was unexpectedly efficient and I made it back home with a day to spare before heading to southern California for 2nd stage of Web.com qualifying.

With my mom on the bag and quicker greens I was ready to make up for the previous week by blazing to a record-setting victory, with trumpets and confetti heralding me as I birdie the last hole, find my backpack in the trunk, and drive off into the sunset.  Alas, the par-5s had other plans.  I finished the week +3 on par 5s, in contrast to the top three finishers who were 14, 10, and 14 shots better than me on those holes for the week (I missed by 5 at +1 total). And that is without hitting a single drive out of play--historically my achilles heel.  

So I finish the season. Or two seasons really.  Following my spine operation in January, from April through August, I played 11 events, was +43 total, with a 73.12 scoring average.  Then, from September through November, I played 5 events, was -30 total, and had a 70.30 scoring average including a win at European first stage (-16) and a top 20 at the European Tour's Russian Open.  I'm finally healthy and swinging well and excited to build upon the last few months going into next season.

Next up will be Asian Tour Qschool in early January. As far as European or Web/PGA events, I have to rely on sponsor exemptions, so when you talk to your friendly local tournament director don't forget me!  

Thank you very much again for all your support and enjoy the holidays!

Dodge Kemmer

2009 Alum Dodge Kemmer Finding Winning Form

After a summer of mostly disappointing results, things started to fall into place in September.  I played two events, never shot over par, was in the 60s for 6 of the 8 rounds, and was 24-under total!  First was the European Tour's M2M Russian Open played outside Moscow, where I shot 71-69-68-68 for 8-under total and tied for 17th place.  Two weeks later I played in first stage of European Tour Q-school in Austria near Vienna.  There I shot 68-65-71-68 for 16-under and a four-shot victory!  Of course its officially only medalist honors as its Qschool, but I'm still calling it a win!

With that I advance to 2nd stage in Europe to be played in Spain the first week of November with Final Stage the following week, also in Spain.  I am also slated to play Web.com Qschool this fall; that 1st stage is October 20-23 in Dayton, NV.  Unfortunately, if I earn a spot in Final Stage of the European Qschool, I will be unable to play in 2nd stage of Web.com Qschool as the dates conflict by a mere 12 hours.  They must do that on purpose but don't ask me why.

Scores for Dayton Valley should be available HERE 

Thanks for the support!

Dodge