During spring quarter, students often find themselves tempted by the urge to cut class in order to take advantage of pristine weather conditions. The Stanford golf team, never one to avoid the temptations of springtime, may be seen skipping a few extra classes to get some practice time on their home course, complete with blue skies and rolling greens, in the next two weeks.

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Junior Phillip Rowe has been one of the most consistent performers this season for the Stanford men’s golf squad. He will compete this weekend at the U.S. Invitational at Stanford Golf Course #gallery http://daily.stanford.org/image/full/329
Andrew Reid

Junior Phillip Rowe has been one of the most consistent performers this season for the Stanford men’s golf squad. He will compete this weekend at the U.S. Invitational at Stanford Golf Course

But it’s not all fun and games for the squad, as they prepare for a series of important matches at Stanford Golf Course.

Not only is the Cardinal hosting the U.S. Intercollegiate this Saturday and Sunday, but the par-71 6,786 yard Stanford Golf Course will also be the site of the upcoming Pacific 10 Conference Championships next weekend.

“We’re really excited for the next few weeks,” junior Philip Rowe said. “The last couple tournaments haven’t been too good, but now we have home course advantage.”

But don’t expect the No. 38 Cardinal to rest on its laurels just because team members can rest in their own beds. The 18-team field includes eight teams ranked in the top 50, including No. 4 Arizona State and No. 6 Southern California. In addition, last year’s champion, California, will return, as well as the rest of the Pac-10.

Regardless of the strength of the field, the players are confident that they possess the talent to win.

“It’s just a case of getting it all together,” Rowe said. “Obviously, we’re going to be focused on the long term, so, using this week as a stepping stone, we’ll see what we can do to improve.”

The Cardinal squad that enters its two-week home series is markedly different from the one that began the season. The team has matured by experiencing many wearisome ups and downs. Earlier this season, the squad flexed its muscle by notching a win at the Fresno Lexus Classic. In addition, the team has nabbed individual championships with Rowe and senior Jimmy Lee.

But the squad has struggled with its depth, resulting in some poor finishes. The men are looking to bounce back from a 21st-place finish at last week’s ASU Thunderbird / Savane Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., where host Arizona State won.

“We had a lot of difficult situations that cropped up last tournament,” Rowe said. “Hopefully, it’s given us the jolt we needed and we’ll be right up there.”

Rowe expressed confidence in the team’s outlook.

“The season is coming along, and we’re learning a lot,” he said. “[First-year coach Jeff Mitchell] is working out great this year. We’re all impressed with the job he’s doing. The next few weeks are crucial. We can compete, it’s just a case of pulling it all together.”

The Cardinal is looking to make a statement on its home turf this week, and it has the firepower to do so. In addition to team leaders Rowe and Lee, senior Eric Dahlberg will compete, looking to improve on his 9th-place finish at last year’s U.S. Intercollegiate, where he was Stanford’s top placer.

Also competing will be Jim Seki, last week’s top finisher at the Thunderbird / Savane Invitational.

The players say they are excited for the next few weeks, partly because the postseason is drawing ever closer. But a part of every player on the team wants to show their talent on their own terms, and Stanford Golf Course is the perfect place for the Cardinal to strut its stuff.

“We know the course well,” Rowe said. “Obviously, we’re going to be focused on winning. This is what we play all the tournaments all year for.”