USC and Amari Avery make it two in a row at the Gold Rush
Courtesy of USC Athletics
USC and
Amari Avery made it two wins in a row on Tuesday as the Trojans romped to the team championship while its highly-touted freshman won her second tournament in as many outings.
Coming off a win at the ICON Collegiate last week in Houston, the 10th-ranked Trojans turned in another dominating performance over two days at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, Calif. by a school-record 36-stroke margin over second-place UCLA. At 1-under par 863, the Trojans were the only squad in the 12-team field to finish in red numbers.
Combined with its runaway victory last week in Houston, the Trojans have won their last two tournaments by 51 strokes.
"This was an insanely good week for a group that has worked really hard and really smart to get here," said USC head coach Justin Silverstein, who now has 16 team titles under his belt. "They should be very proud of themselves for how they handled this difficult golf course this week and how they performed during this three tournament stretch we just played.
To say Avery has been a shot in the arm for the Trojans would be a huge understatement.
Playing in just her third collegiate stroke play event since arriving at USC a month ago as a spring enrollee, Avery captured her second individual title in as many weeks with a 5-under 211 (69-74-68), becoming the first Trojan - and the first USC freshman - since Annie Park to win twice in a row. She now has carded five rounds in the 60s in nine rounds during her young career.
"Amari's back-to-back wins have been very fun to watch and the best is yet to come for her as a Trojan golfer," said Silverstein. "This group needs to get some rest and then we will start preparing for our next event which is a semi-home game at Palos Verdes Golf Club."
USC senior
Katherine Muzi finished behind Avery at 1-over 217 while sophomores
Brianna Navarrosa (76-73-74) and
Michaela Morard (79-68-76) tied for eighth at 7-over 223.
ABOUT THE The Gold Rush
54-hole women's college golf tournament hosted by
Long Beach State University. Team (best four scores
out of five players each round) and individual
competitions.
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