The Oregon women’s golf team can’t catch Jerilyn White.
After one round at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships in Tempe, Ariz., Oregon senior White is in fourth place and within striking distance of the individual crown.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Oregon team didn’t do as well, and the Ducks stand in ninth overall.
California, ranked 41st nationally, is the surprise leader at the Pac-10s. The Golden Bears were led by Sarah Huarte’s 3-under-par 69 over the first round at the Karsten Golf Course.
“It’s a good time for everything to come together,” Cal coach Nancy McDaniel said. “The last two tournaments we’ve been closing the gap on teams ahead of us.”
Cal is beating out national powerhouses such as No. 2 Arizona, No. 21 Arizona State and No. 4 Southern California. The Wildcats are six strokes behind the Bears, while the Sun Devils, Trojans and Cardinal of Stanford are knotted in third place, seven strokes out of first.
The Ducks’ highlight Monday was the play of White, who shot an even-par 72 at a course she is “very familiar with,” according to Oregon head coach Shannon Rouillard.
“She knows Arizona State’s course very well; she’s played it many times,” Rouillard said. “We had regionals here last year, and she finished birdie-eagle, so she has a lot of good memories of this golf course.”
White has a penchant for starting slow, then finishing strong. White is only three strokes behind the tournament’s leader.
“I just know she’s going to tear it up and play real well,” Rouillard said.
Other Oregon finishers Monday included senior Claire Hunter (77, 34th), sophomore Megan Heckeroth (78, 39th), senior Dawn Berry (79, 45th) and junior Kathy Cho (80, 47th).
The Ducks could overtake some teams in front of them with a strong round today. Eighth-place Oregon State is three strokes ahead of Oregon, seventh-place Washington is seven stokes up and sixth-place UCLA is eight strokes in front of the Ducks.
The Pac-10 teams will continue play with one 18-hole round today and one tomorrow.