Ducks Enter Spring Looking to Build on Recent Success

EUGENE, Ore. – With the start of its 2018 spring campaign less than a week away, the Oregon women's golf team is looking to build on the momentum from two straight NCAA Championships appearances.

The Ducks reached the national championship tournament in back-to-back years for the first time in program history last spring – fueled by a program-best third-place NCAA Regional finish – and will begin their quest for a third straight appearance when they travel to Las Vegas to face Washington State in match play on back-to-back days (Feb. 5-6).

Oregon is coming off a fall season that was much more focused on progression than results. The Ducks started well by finishing first in the stroke play portion of the East and West Match Play, and then got valuable experience in match play that will prove useful should they make it back to the big dance.

The Ducks also received a solid fall from junior Kathleen Scavo, who led the team with a 73.00 scoring average and finished as the co-medalist in stroke play in the East and West Match Play after winning the Portland Amateur Classic Open in the summer.

"Scavo getting her first individual win was such a great accomplishment for her," said head coach Ria Scott. "She also recently played well at the Arizona Silver Belle. She's got some great accomplishments to build on for the spring season."

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Scavo will be important to the Ducks' success as one of three upperclassmen, along with senior Kelsey Ulep and fellow junior Petra Salko. All three have been significant contributors to Oregon's postseason success the last couple years, and will be just as important off the course as leaders and mentors for the underclassmen.

"Our three upperclassmen know exactly what it means to be Women of Oregon," said Scott, "and they have embraced so much what this student-athlete experience has to offer. They are very involved on campus, and they are leaders on our team and in the classroom. They have all grown so much during their time here, and I think our underclassmen can really look to them for some healthy competition and leadership.

"We're proud of the players they are today, but are even more proud of the people they have become. Kelsey, Kathleen and Petra have come in so clutch for us in our past postseason runs and they have the ability to do it again."

The Ducks also have two underclassmen returning this spring, with sophomore Amy Matsuoka back for her second season and freshman Alexis Phadungmartvorakul coming off a solid fall in her first taste of collegiate action.

Matsuoka showed flashes as a freshman last year, including clinching a win over Ohio State in the semifinals of the 2016 East and West Match Play with a victory in extra holes.

Phadungmartvorakul burst onto the scene this past fall with an 8-under 64 in her first collegiate round, carding nine birdies to finish with the second-best single-round score in program history. The freshman from Taft, Calif., finished the fall second on the team with a 74.40 scoring average.

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"There is a lot to adjust to in your first term of college, especially when you are only 17," said Scott. "Alexis has shown that she has the skill to compete with anyone. She's long, and has shown she can go low. We worked a lot on her course management this fall and are excited to see that pay off in the spring."

While Phadungmartvorakul has had some time to adjust to the college life, Oregon's lone newcomer for the spring, freshman Madi Daniel, will be faced with a similar transition.

"As we start the spring season, we will reinforce our culture and values, because Madi is new to our squad this January," said Scott. "It's never a bad thing to remind everyone how we do what we do, and rediscover why we do it. We'll do lots of conditioning and speed training, and just assess what kind of game everyone is coming back to campus with."

And while Daniel comes in as a true freshman with no collegiate experience to date, the Bakersfield, Calif., native joins the Ducks as what Scott describes as a "fierce competitor" with a lot of quality golf and success under her belt.

"When you meet Madi, you will instantly feel her fire," said Scott. "She will be competitive with her teammates, but will also be their biggest supporter out on the course. Madi is also a long, dynamic player, who makes a sound on the golf ball that I don't hear very often in college golf. I know she's excited to tighten up her short game with us and be able to practice with some high-level players daily. It never hurts to add another player to the lineup that can go low."

The addition of Daniel gives the Ducks six quality options to insert into the lineup, and will make the practices leading up to the start of the spring season that much more competitive.

And for a program coming off two straight berths to the NCAA Championships, Scott and the Ducks will go into the spring focused and driven to make it back for the third year in a row and compete for the ultimate prize.