Matsuoka Tied for Lead After First Round in Hawaii

KAILUA KONA, Hawaii – Senior Amy Matsuoka is tied for the individual lead after carding the best round of her career on Monday in the opening round of the Pac-12 Preview at Nanea Golf Club.

Led by Matsuoka, the No. 15 Ducks shot a 5-under 287 and are in third place as a team after the opening 18 holes. No. 8 Arizona holds the team lead at 10 under, and No. 22 UCLA is in second at 7 under.

How it Happened: Matsuoka made par on her first four holes before carding two birdies and a bogey over the next five to enter the turn at 1 under. The Newport Beach, Calif., native was stellar over her final nine holes, shooting 4 under with four birdies and five pars to finish 5-under par, the best mark of her career.

Matsuoka enters Tuesday's second round as the event's co-leader along with Arizona's Therese Warner, one stroke ahead of UCLA's Emma Spitz.

"I'm extremely grateful to be back playing in Hawaii for my last year playing here at Oregon," said Matsuoka. "Starting off strong and shooting my career-low round is a great way to cap off m last fall season as a Duck.

"I hit multiple close shots, drained a few putts and, most importantly, stayed in the present moment."

Freshman Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen also enjoyed a solid opening round, shooting a 2-under 71 to close the day in a tie for seventh on the individual leaderboard. Kibsgaar Nielsen enjoyed a stretch of four birdies in five holes during the front nine, and the Denmark native matched Matsuoka with six total birdies.

Junior Alexis Phadungmartvorakul shot an even round of 73 with three birdies and three bogeys to sit in a tie for 19th overall, giving Oregon three players in the top 20 after the opening 18 holes. Freshman Ching-Tzu Chen rounded out the scoring for the Ducks with a 2-over 75.

Notable: Matsuoka's 68 matched the lowest 18-round total of her career … Oregon carded 57 total pars and 17 total birdies, both the fourth-most on the day … Matsuoka was 3 under on par-4 holes, tied for the best mark on the day.

Ducks on the Leaderboard:
3. Oregon – 287 (-5)
T1. Amy Matsuoka – 68 (-5)
T7. Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen – 71 (-2)
T19. Alexis Phadungmartvorakul – 73 (E)
T31. Ching-Tzu Chen – 75 (+2)
T47. Tze-Han (Heather) Lin – 78 (+5)

Up Next: The Ducks continue play at the Pac-12 Preview, their final event of the fall, with the second of three rounds on Tuesday.