Rob Grube ‘08, a highly acclaimed, four-time All-American who led Stanford to the 2007 NCAA men’s golf championship, has recently been granted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the 2008 Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open. The event is scheduled to run from July 28 to Aug. 3 at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Grube, unsurprisingly, is just as eager to play as others are to watch him.

“I am so excited to compete in the Legends Reno Tahoe Open,” Grube told GoStanford.com. “With this being my first PGA tour event, it’s almost like a home match for me as it is just up the road from the Bay Area . . . To compete against some of the best players on the greatest tour in the world is a dream come true for me.”

Giving Grube the most meaningful compliments of all was The Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf at Stanford, Conrad Ray, who told GoStanford.com that “Rob will go down in the history books as one of Stanford’s all-time greats . . . He was the catalyst for the turnaround of our program the last few years and was a true pleasure to coach. His work ethic and approach to the game will set the standards for years to come.”

Among the reasons for the recent praise for Grube are his fourth-consecutive first-team All-Pac 10 Conference Award this past season and his being named the conference’s scholar athlete of the year. A native of Hinsdale, Ill., he posted five top-10 finishes in his 11 tournaments as a senior. Grube, who graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in American studies, was also finalist for both the Cleveland Golf Bryon Nelson Award and the Ben Hogan Award as a senior.

Joining Grube at the event will be Stanford freshman Michelle Wie, who took a leave of absence from the University prior to the start of spring quarter in order to pursue her golfing career, but plans to return to classes this fall.