The weather at the Anthem Country Club in Las Vegas improved Tuesday, but the Ducks failed to follow suit.
The Oregon women’s golf team dropped into 13th place out of 15 teams at the Las Vegas Founders Women’s Collegiate Showdown on Tuesday, after shooting its second-consecutive round of 325. The Ducks trail tournament leader New Mexico by 61 strokes.
Weather conditions improved from Monday, when a blustery wind kept every score over par and forced more than half of the 81 scores over 80 strokes.
“Scores obviously were lower as a reflection of the weather,” Oregon head coach Shannon Rouillard said.
UNLV true freshman Sunny Oh is the tournament’s individual leader. Oh tied for the best round of the day with a 2-under-par 70, putting her at 3-over 145. New Mexico sophomore Kailin Downs, who also fired a second-round 70, shares second place with junior teammate Kristi Larsen and Pepperdine’s senior All-American, Lindsey Wright.
UNLV, which led after Monday’s first round, is in second at 594, five strokes behind New Mexico. Pepperdine is in third at 602, followed by San Jose State at 617 and Brigham Young at 619.
“It’s my hope to gain a little ground on a team or two ahead of us,” Rouillard said. “We need to count four rounds in the 70s.”
True freshman Therese Wenslow, who has set two Oregon records this fall, carded the Ducks’ best score of the day with a 4-over 76, putting her in a tie for 21st at 155.
“Therese played an incredible round of golf,” Rouillard said. “A 76 on this course is very commendable.”
Sophomore Johnna Nealy was the only Duck other than Wenslow to shoot a round in the 70s Tuesday, as she carded a 7-over 79.
The tournament concludes Wednesday with the final 18 holes.
“Each time we count four scores in the 70s, we’re an incredible team,” Rouillard said. “We’ll get another chance tomorrow.”
Jon Roetman is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.