In the sunny yet gusty conditions of Athens, Georgia, Rutgers women's golf team made a strong start at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. After the opening round, the Scarlet Knights sit in third place, just five strokes off the lead. Sophomore Judy Amano was the standout performer, carding a one-under-par 71 at the challenging UGA Golf Course.
With two rounds remaining, Rutgers trails leader High Point, who posted a two-over 290. Host Georgia holds second with a five-over 293, while Rutgers follows closely with a seven-over 295. Leading the individual field is Georgia's Trinity Beth, who dazzled with a six-under-par 66.
Head coach Kari Williams expressed optimism about the team's position: "We played well today on a tough course in high, gusty winds. We have a few areas to improve, but we're in a good spot heading into the second round."
Amano's performance was marked by six birdies and seven pars, placing her sixth among 89 competitors. Reflecting on her round, Amano said, "I'm really happy with my play today in such difficult conditions.
It was great to bounce back after NC State. Our team put together a solid score, and we aim to keep playing our game and stay patient."
Joline Truong also delivered a solid performance, carding a one-over-par 73 to tie for eighth. Emily James, fresh off a runner-up finish at the City of Oaks Collegiate, is tied for 14th with a two-over-par 74.
Rounding out the team, rookie Elizabeth Ryu is tied for 37th, and redshirt senior Grace Lu is tied for 67th. Junior Krystal Li, competing as an individual, is tied for 82nd.
The Scarlet Knights are poised to make a move as the tournament progresses, with their eyes set on climbing the leaderboard in the upcoming rounds.