USC women's team nearing record 5th straight win
30 Sep 2013
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HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (Sept. 30, 2013) -- Sophomore Kyung Kim extended her streak of rounds in the 60s to start the season to five while fellow sophomore Annie Park was also under par to lead the No. 1 USC women’s golf team to a one-stroke lead after a 36-hole opening day to the Windy City Collegiate Championship at the Northmoor C.C. in Highland Park, Ill.
The Trojans, seeking their school-record fifth-straight win dating back to their 2013 NCAA Championship season, combined for a 6-under 562 (284-278), one better than second-place Oklahoma State (563) and two ahead of Pac-12 rival Arizona (564). Stanford is fourth (568).USC’s current four-event win streak matches the school record set in 2008 when Troy closed out the season by winning its final four tournaments, culminating with the national championship.
Kim, who opened the 2013-14 season with a win at the Dale McNamara Fall Preview with three rounds in the 60s, maintained her torrid pace with a 5-under 137 (69-68) to establish a one-shot lead. She birdied 12 and 13 during a 2-under first round. She was 1-over on the front 9 of her second round but birdied 12 again to get to even and finished her day with birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to put USC and herself in first place.
Kim now has one less round in the 60s already this year than all of last season. The school record for a season is eight, shared by Jennifer Song (2010) and Irene Cho (2006). The career record is held by senior Sophia Popov (17).
Park is tied for fifth at 2-under 140 (71-69). She opened with an even first round that included three front 9 birdies. She was even on her second-round front 9 and finished the back 9 at 2-under, including a birdie on 18. Park, who finished tied for 24th in USC’s season opener, has not finished outside the top 27 in any collegiate event in her young career.
Freshman Karen Chung is tied for eighth at even 142 (73-69). She had one birdie in her first round, but four during her 2-under second round, including on 15 and 18 to close her day.Junior Doris Chen (71-75) and freshman Gabriella Then (74-72) are tied for 29th. Chen had one birdie in each of her rounds while Then had two birdies in both rounds.
Senior Rachel Morris, playing individually (and for the first time competitively since the 2013 NCAA title), is tied for 69th at 15-over 157 (81-76).
Action concludes Tuesday with 18 holes beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT.