Right Down the Middle With Steve Ziegler

This interview appeared on gostanford.com 3/11/10:

STANFORD, Calif. - Steve Ziegler earned first team All-Pac-10 Conference honors last season as a sophomore after leading the team in stroke average (72.58) in 12 events on the year. He captured his first individual title as a collegian at the USC/Ashworth Invitational, where he carded six rounds in the 60's en route to the title.

A native of Broomfield, Colo., Ziegler won both the Colorado Association Stroke Play and Match Play titles last summer, becoming just the ninth player to win both events in the same year and the first player to accomplish the feat since Brandt Jobe in 1985. He carded rounds of 69, 70, 67 and 67 to claim the Stroke Play title at the Lakewood Country Club and defeated Tom Gempel one-up in the 36-hole final of the CGA Match Play championships at the Bear Creek Golf Club in Denver after being two down with three holes to play.

One of 25 players listed on the watch list for the prestigious Ben Hogan Award, Ziegler has carded a 73.0 stroke average in his eight events this season for the second-ranked Cardinal, with his top finish coming at the Fighting Illini Invitational, where he tied for sixth.

"Steve is one of the most tenacious players on the team," said Knowles Director of Golf and head coach Conrad Ray. "Steve, along with Joseph Bramlett and Sihwan Kim, provide valuable leadership at the top of our line up. His scores this year haven't necessarily reflected how well he has been playing and hitting the ball. He's a hardworking kid who won't take no for an answer."

GoStanford.com recently caught up with Steve for this installment of "Right Down the Middle," which profiles members of Stanford's men's golf team.

Home course: The Ranch Country Club; Stanford Golf Course.
Favorite course you have played: Friar's Head.
Course you would most like to play: Augusta National.
Favorite golfer: Nick Faldo.
One swing thought you are always trying to remember: Making a full shoulder turn.
Favorite major championship to watch: The Masters.
Earliest memories of playing golf: Hitting balls with my dad and brother on practice range.
What's your most memorable round: The final round, specifically final nine at USC's invitational last year.
What's your most memorable shot: Hitting it close on 18 the final day of last year's USC Collegiate.
Favorite ball mark: None.

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