Women’s Golf | May 08, 2023
Freshman Catherine Park fired a collegiate best 6-under 66 while senior Malia Nam and sophomore Amari Avery posted a pair of 4-under 68s to lead an entire USC lineup that shot under par today in a Trojan record-setting NCAA Pullman Regional first round at the Palouse Ridge G.C. in Pullman, Wash., on Monday (May 8).
USC combined for a 16-under par 272, its lowest ever score in relation to par in the postseason and the fourth-lowest in relation to par in program history. As hot as Troy was, national top seed Stanford was a bit better, finishing the day first at 21-under 267.
Still, it was a big first step for the Trojans, who are trying to reach the NCAA Championships final for the 25th second consecutive time.
USC, coming off the 2023 Pac-12 title, needs a top 5 finish in the Pullman Regional – one of six 12-team NCAA sites – to advance to Grayhawk G.C. in Scottsdale, Ariz., for nationals.
USC set the school record for most under par in a round last season at 18-under at the Icon Invitational. Its best mark in relation to par in the postseason was a 13-under at the 2016 Pac-12 Championships.
The Trojans are currently 11 strokes clear of a tie for fifth place heading into Tuesday’s second round.
They were led Monday by Park, who is tied for third after her best round as a Trojan, two back. She was even through her first eight holes before a birdie on nine. She was still just 1-under after 13 but finished her final five holes with three birdies and an eagle on 17.
Nam and Avery came close to matching Park and are tied for ninth at 4-under. Nam, who opened play with a double bogey, also finished with a flourish, with birdies on 15 and 17 and an eagle on 18 to match her season-best and post her fourth round in the 60s this season.
Avery turned at 2-under and used birdies on 16 and 17 for her 4-under, which gives her nine rounds in the 60s this year and 19 for her career, putting her two off the USC record.
Junior Christine Wang, in her first postseason starting assignment, turned at par and birdied 17 and 18 for a 2-under 70, her second straight sub-par round. She is tied for 18th.
Sophomore Xin (Cindy) Kou had the rare sub-par round that was a non-counting score, posting a 1-under 71 for a tie for 24th. A quad on the par 5 5th hole left her at 3-over, but she steadied herself…
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