Ducks Shake Off Slow Start, Recover in Round One

Thursday, May 7

San Antonio, Texas

5:30 AM

University of Oregon

Briggs Ranch GC

Photo by: GoDucks.com

05/07/15 | Women's Golf

By: GoDucks.com

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Ducks overcame some first round jitters at the NCAA Regional at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas, and finished the day with a 3-over 291, putting them in a tie for 8th place in the 18-team tournament. Freshman Kelsey Ulep gradually improved as the day wore on and carded a career-low 3-under 69 that was bolstered by a 4-under 32 on the back side.

How It Happened: Starting off on No. 1 competing with players from Florida State and Auburn, the Ducks took a few holes to settle in. Caroline Inglis and Cassy Isagawa both doubled the 389-yard par-4 first hole, and Ulep weathered a pair of bogeys on the third and fourth holes.

Despite the slow start, things clicked for the Ducks almost simultaneously on the seventh hole. Cathleen Santoso, Marcella Pranovia, Isagawa and Ulep all birdied the 494-yard par-5, and the Green and Yellow began to find their groove.

Ulep's day worked its way into the red once she hit the back nine. The Rocklin, Calif., native birdied the 11th and 14th, and was able to eagle the 13th after reaching the par-5 in two, converting the 20-foot putt. She finished the last four holes even par and ended the day tying the lowest score of her Oregon career. She currently is tied for seventh place.

After starting the day 4-over through the first six holes, Isagawa birdied the seventh, 10th and 17th holes to finish with a 1-over 73, putting her in a tie for 39th in the individual standings.

Santoso was consistent and steady as usual, finishing the day with a 2-over 74. The sophomore recorded 15 pars, one double bogey, one bogey and one birdie over the course of her day.

The Pac-12 Champion, Inglis, gave the Ducks their fourth and final score of the first round after firing a 3-over 75. The Eugene native was able to score fairly well (three birdies), but four bogeys along with a slipup on the first hole ended up costing her some strokes.

Tennessee leads the field at 12-under par (276), and UCLA sits in second at 10-under (278).

The Field: It's still extremely early in the tournament, but the top five teams in the field put some significant space between themselves and the trailing 13 teams. Tennessee (-12), UCLA (-10), Baylor (-8), Washington (-7) and Texas A&M (-7) are solidly under par, while a cluster of teams in the middle of the pack including Texas (-1), Oklahoma (E), Auburn (+3), Florida State (+3) and Oregon (+3) will be jockeying for the sixth and final position that will qualify to the NCAA Championships in Bradenton, Fla.

Statistics: The Ducks were at their best on the par-5's today, finishing round one with a 5-under 4.75 average, good for fourth-best in the field…Ulep was one of five players to record an eagle today…As a result, the freshman led the field on the par-5's with a 5-under 3.75 average…Hole No. 1 – that gave the Ducks trouble – ended up being the hardest hole of the day, and hole No. 7 – the turning point for UO – played as the easiest hole of the day.

Round Two: The Ducks will begin their day bright and early tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. (CT) when they tee off No. 10 with players from Texas Tech and Arizona State.