There was at least one silver lining for the Oregon women’s golf team after the opening round of the 2003 Pacific-10 Conference Championships.
The Ducks got off to a shaky start Thursday after the team carded a 316 at the par-72, 6,160-yard Trysting Tree Golf Club. Currently, Oregon is one stroke ahead of tournament host and in-state rival Oregon State, and 24 strokes behind day-one leader No. 8 California, which scored a 292 opening round.
The lone bright spot for Oregon was sophomore Johnna Nealy, who is participating in her second Pac-10 Conference Championship tournament after competing as a true freshman last year.
Nealy finished the day tied for 14th overall with a 3-over 75. The day didn’t start out well for Nealy as she bogeyed three times in her first nine holes. She started the day on the back nine, but was able to gain some momentum for the Ducks as she birdied holes No. 13, No. 1 and No. 2. Just as things appeared to be headed in the right direction for Nealy, she shot par on the next three holes before she struggled on the fifth hole, where she shot a double bogey. Nealy also bogeyed her final hole of the day, the ninth.
Despite her struggles in the opening and later holes of the course, Nealy was able to put herself into position for a potential top-10 finish. However, two more rounds of golf are still ahead for the Nealy and the rest of the field.
Freshman sensation Therese Wenslow finished the opening round tied with freshman teammate Erin Andrews at 34th overall, with a six-over par 78. Andrews would have been listed on the leaderboard had she not shot a disastrous second hole of the day. After opening the day on the 10th hole, Andrews proceeded to shoot a nine on the par-4 11th hole. She concluded the rest of the 16 holes by shooting a composed 2-over par.
Senior Annie Davis, whose score will not count for the Ducks, completed the day tied for 47th after an opening round 81. Sophomore Jess Carlyon finished tied for 55th followed by freshman Michelle Timpani at 58th overall.
The second round of the Pac-10 Championships is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. today.