Xander Schauffele Wins Olympic Gold Medal
The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» alumnus was a seven-time Mountain West Conference Golfer of the Week.
Former Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» men’s golfer Xander Schauffele captured the gold medal in the men’s individual stroke play event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Sunday at the par-71, 7,447-yard Kasumigaseki Country Club. Representing the United States, Schauffele carded a 4-under 67 in the final round and finished the four-day event at 18-under 266.
Schauffele, a San Diego native who attended Scripps Ranch High School, was a third-team All-American in 2015 from both Golfweek and GCAA at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», while also finishing as a three-time all-Mountain West selection and seven-time MW Golfer of the Week. He finished his three-year Aztec career with two individual titles, 16 top-five finishes and 21 top-10 showings. Currently the fifth-ranked player in the world, Schauffele has won four times over his career on the PGA Tour.
In Kawagoe, Japan, Schauffele vaulted into the lead after an 8-under 63 in the second round on Friday following an opening round 3-under 68. He then birdied the par-4, 500-yard 18th hole on Saturday to card another 68, maintaining a one-stroke lead.
In Sunday’s final round, Schauffele opened with consecutive birdies on the par-4, 411-yard first hole and the par-4, 381-yard second. He then birdied the par-5, 640-yard fifth and the par-5, 586-yard eighth to log a 4-under 32 front nine. After five consecutive pars, however, Schauffele bogeyed the par-5, 625-yard 14th following a wayward tee shot. Schauffele rebounded with a birdie on the par-4, 343-yard 17th and then hit a dart on his third shot on No. 18 before making a 3-foot par to secure the win for the United States.
Read more about Xander Schauffele (’15) and Austin Kaiser (’14), the caddie and former Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» teammate who accompanied him to Japan, in the Summer 2021 issue of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Magazine.
