The Oregon women’s golf team finished ninth in its first round Monday at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational in Sammamish, Wash.
Kim McCready and Cathryn Bristow shot 5-over-par in their first-round efforts, which helped them secure a 23-over-par performance.
McCready, who has finished in the top-20 in each of the last three seasons at University of Washington tournaments, knocked in one birdie during her first round and finished tied for 27th.
The senior has been a part of any success the Ducks have seen in recent years. McCready has an opportunity to put herself in a position for a fourth straight top-20 finish. Her first round was highlighted by pouring in a birdie on 15.
McCready finished in a tie for 83 at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire on Sept. 11 and 12. She was unable to shoot better than 6-over for a round.
Bristow, also finished tied for 27th, started off with one birdie, but followed that with two double bogeys in consecutive holes before getting on track on the back nine. The sophomore will be called upon to lead the Ducks as she did down the stretch last season.
Freshmen Kate Hildahl and Felicia Eastick, both solid in their first round, shot 6-over-par and 7-over-par respectively. The two freshmen have the opportunity to move up in today’s rounds with a competitive field.
Hildahl and Eastick played well in the team’s last tournament in Corvallis, as Hildahl finished tied for 39th and Eastick finished tied for 52nd.
Therese Wenslow shot an Oregon high at 14-over-par, but the senior will look to return to her form of three weeks ago, when she carded two rounds of 73.
The senior struggled in the first two rounds a year ago, until she shot a 1-over-par 73 to tie at 28.
Oregon will look toward its experienced trio of McCready, Wenslow and Bristow to move up the leaderboard and make a run at Arizona State University, which leads after Monday’s first round.
The Sun Devils lead by two shots over University of New Mexico and University of Arizona, which were both tied for second at the end of the Monday’s round one.
Oregon is 12 shots back and one shot behind No. 19 USC.
Stanford’s Mari Chun leads with a 4-under-par 68. Chun recorded five birdies, including consecutive birdies during Monday’s front nine.
Amy Eneroth, of Washington State University, finished one stroke behind Chun to score a 3-under-par 69. Rounding out the top-3, and last to post a score under par, Jodi Ewart of the University of New Mexico posted a 1-under.
The Ducks play one round this morning and will finish the tournament Wednesday.