The women’s golf team has won two tournaments in a row, is ranked 31st in the nation and has two seniors that have combined for three victories this year.
You can throw all that out the window for this weekend’s tournament in Tempe, Ariz.
The Ping/ Arizona State Invitational, which starts today, is the first step in the Ducks’ season-ending journey.
That includes the Pacific-10 Championships later this month, the NCAA West Regionals in early May, and the NCAA Championships in Sunriver later that month.
But first the Ducks have to deal with the field at the Ping/ASU Invitational this weekend, including five of the country’s top 10 teams.
The favorite at the Ping is No. 3 Arizona State. The Sun Devils won their tournament last year, and are coming off their victory of at the San Jose Invitational last month.
The Ducks rely on their tag-team style of play to take on the competition at the Ping. Three Ducks have paced the team this year, while two — seniors Pam Sowden and Kylie Wilson — have won individual titles.
Sowden and Wilson will join junior Jerilyn White and senior Angie Rizzo in their quest for a third straight tournament win. White was the top finisher for Oregon at the Ping/ASU Invitational last year, while Rizzo has been consistent for the Ducks all season.
The quartet of upperclassmen has put together a banner season for the Ducks. With three tournament victories and strong performances in the fall, including two seconds and a seventh place, it’s hard to believe the Ducks aren’t ranked higher than their current No. 31.
The Ping will be the Ducks’ tune-up for the Pac-10 Championships, to be held in two weeks at the Eugene Country Club. Nine Pac-10 teams will compete in Tempe, four of which are in the top six in the country.
Oregon has won its last two tournaments, partly due to weak competition at the Lady Aztec and Colby/Santa Clara Invitationals.
The Ping will test the Ducks’ abilities against Pac-10 foes for the first time since a 14th place finish at the Arizona Wildcat Invitational in February.
Ducks in need of momentum
Daily Emerald
April 6, 2000
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