University of Oregon
Pac-10 Championships
Scores Soar at Pac-10 Women?s Golf Championships
04/19/04 | Women's Golf
SOMIS, Calif. ? Despite shooting 20 strokes over par, UCLA -- the No. 2 team in the nation -- found itself at the front of the field as scores skyrocketed during the first round of the Pac-10 women's golf tournament, played Monday at the par 72, 6,405-yard Saticoy Country Club.
Oregon's Johnna Nealy and Kim McCready were tied for 12th after shooting 6-over 78s, which turned out to be a decent score for Monday's round. Only one golfer, Arizona's Erin Blasberg, broke par, and only 24 golfers kept their scores below 80 on the lengthy Saticoy course.
The Bruins corralled a 308 to take a one shot lead over No. 13 Washington and a two shot advantage against No. 23 Stanford. Three teams -- No. 4 California, No. 9 USC and Arizona State -- were tied for fourth at 312. No. 11 Arizona followed with a 314.
Oregon finished its round in eighth with a 320, 12 strokes back of UCLA. Oregon State (332) and Washington State (334) rounded out the field.
"We're not particularly pleased with our score, but by no means have we lost contact with the rest of the field," said Oregon coach Shannon Rouillard. "The course played extremely difficult today and some of the best golfers in the country shot 80 or higher. Par was a very good score and that's what you've got to learn to expect at a championship event."
Blasberg had two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars for her 1-under 71. Angela Rho of Stanford was second at 1-over 73 and a trio of golfers -- Sofie Anderson of California, Charlotte Mayorkas of UCLA and Tiffany Tavee of Arizona State -- were tied for third at 2-over 74.
Oregon began its round on the back nine and Nealy, a junior from Grants Pass, Ore., opened her day with five straight pars before faltering with double bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16. She then recorded four more pars before getting knocked back with a 6 on the par 4 third, followed by a bogey on No. 4. But Nealy rallied to play her final five holes one stroke under, with four pars and a birdie on No. 8 to finish with a 78.
McCready, a freshman from Placerville, Calif., started well, playing the backside two strokes over par, but double bogeys on No. 1 and the troublesome third hole knocked her to 6-over, though she recovered to finish with six straight pars to earn her 78. Also for the Ducks, sophomore Michelle Timpani was tied for 33rd after shooting an 81 and sophomore Erin Andrews was tied for 39th with an 83. Sophomore Therese Wenslow and junior Jess Carlyon, competing as an individual, struggled mightily Monday, as both shot 17-over 89s.
"I would have liked to count at least one more score in the 70s and preferably two more," said Rouillard. "But we can't hang our heads. We need to go out there tomorrow and see if we can't make a few minor adjustments to save a stroke here and there as we get more familiar with the golf course."
The second of the three-round event will be played Tuesday morning.
Pacific-10 Championships
Saticoy Country Club
Somis, Calif.
First Round
6,405-yards, par-72
Team Scores - 1, UCLA, 308. 2, Washington, 309. 3, Stanford, 310. 4 (tie), USC, 312; Arizona State, 312; California, 312. 7, Arizona, 314. 8, Oregon, 320. 9, Oregon State, 332. 10, Washington State, 334.
Oregon Individuals - 12 (tie), Johnna Nealy, 78; Kim McCready, 78. 33 (tie), Michelle Timpani, 81. 39 (tie), Erin Andrews, 83. 54 (tie), Therese Wenslow, 87; Jess Carlyon, 87.
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Players Mentioned
