Ulep, Ducks Finish Second to Open Spring

Sunday, February 12

Stanford, Calif.

ALL DAY

University of Oregon

Peg Barnard Invitational

Photo by: GoDucks.com

02/12/17 | Women's Golf

Team Results Individual Results

KELSEY ULEP SHINES IN FIRST TOURNAMENT OF JUNIOR YEAR; DUCKS OPEN SPRING WITH SECOND-PLACE FINISH TO TOP-RANKED STANFORD

By: Nate Krueger

STANFORD, Calif. - Kelsey Ulep recorded the best finish of her career in the first tournament of her junior year to lead the Oregon women's golf team to a second-place showing at the Peg Barnard Invitational in the first event of the spring season.

How it Happened: After not competing during the fall, Ulep carried the momentum from her even-par 71 to open the weekend on Saturday into Sunday's final round. The Rocklin, Calif., native was stellar across the front nine with seven pars and two birdies to go into the turn at 2-under overall, and then rebounded from bogeys on holes 10 and 11 with three birdies in the next five holes.

Ulep finished the final round with a 2-under 69 and earned her best finish as a collegiate golfer at second overall to lead the Ducks (292, 289 - 581, +14), who placed second to top-ranked Stanford while placing all five players in the individual top 25. The Cardinal's Andrea Lee, the No. 3-ranked player in the country, won the individual tournament title at 8-under.

Sophomore Petra Salko also enjoyed a strong final round, shooting 2-under across her first nine holes before ending with an even-par 71 to close the tournament in a tie for 11th at 5-over. Fellow classmate Kathleen Scavo also finished 5-over for the weekend after firing a 4-over 75 on Sunday.

Freshman Amy Matsuoka and senior Cathleen Santoso rounded out the Oregon lineup with the same scores from their opening rounds, as Matsuoka shot a 3-over 74 and Santoso finished with a 4-over 75. Matsuoka ended the weekend in a tie for 15th at 6-over, while Santoso was 8-over to tie for 24th.

Quotable: Ria Scott, Head Coach
"Really proud of the team effort this weekend. The course played long and wet, and we had some longer clubs onto the greens than anticipated. The team never complained once and maintained a good outlook throughout the event. It was fun to see Kelsey and Petra perform today. It should be a boost of confidence for them headed into the rest of the spring. Kelsey played as if she hasn't missed a beat. It is fun to see her play so well and be healthy again. We are excited for the potential impact she could make in our lineup."

Kelsey Ulep, Junior
"It was a great start to our season! The team played well and the high energy continued throughout our last day. We are ready to grind out these next few days and then go and play in New Orleans."

Petra Salko, Sophomore
"Second place is a promising start for our spring season. We are already excited for our next tournament and can't wait to compete again. We are learning every day to be more patient and mindful on the course and that will be our asset moving forward."

Notable: The Ducks led the tournament on par 4 holes with a team score of +20, four strokes better than Stanford ... Oregon also ended the weekend with the most pars in the field with 119 ... Ulep tied for the top score on par 5 holes at 4-under ... Ulep accounted for eight of the Ducks' 20 birdies in the tournament.

Up Next: The Ducks will travel to New Orleans, La., next week to compete in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate at English Turn Country Club on February 19-21.