USC’s women’s golf team spent Monday climbing at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, and by the end of the opening round the Trojans had worked their way into a tie for second.
The No. 2 Trojans posted an even-par 288 at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, placing them alongside Virginia and South Carolina in a three-way share of second in the 12-team field.
USC opened the day in ninth, but made steady ground on a course measuring 6,267 yards and playing to a par 72. Wake Forest separated itself from the pack, finishing as the only team under par at 280 (-8).
Virginia’s Zoe Cusack paced the individual race after a 67 (-5).
Elise Lee led USC with a 71 (-1) and sits tied for seventh. Her round had a rocky start, with bogeys on two of the first four holes, but she settled in quickly and played the rest of the way without another mistake. Three birdies on the back nine pulled her under par, and she’s the only Trojan in red numbers so far.
Sarah Hammett and Bailey Shoemaker matched each other with even-par 72s and are tied for 12th. Shoemaker absorbed both of her bogeys on the front nine, then answered with a birdie at No.
- She added another birdie at the par-4 No. 15 to get back to par.
Hammett’s scorecard followed a similar script. She also had two bogeys on the front side before birdieing No. 9, then limited the damage the rest of the way. Two birdies on the back nine helped her close at even.
Jasmine Koo finished at 73 (+1) and is tied for 16th. She had two bogeys on the front nine and birdied the par-4 No. 8, then played bogey-free the rest of the round.
Kylie Chong rounded out the USC lineup with a 78 (+6), leaving her tied for 50th.
USC’s round one scores: T7.
Elise Lee, -1 (71)
T12.
Sarah Hammett, E (72)
T12.
Bailey Shoemaker, E (72)
T16.
Jasmine Koo, +1 (73)
T50.
Kylie Chong, +6 (78)
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