Ashley Menne
Arizona State was clicking on all cylinders Monday during the first round of the Nanea Pac-12 Preview being held at Nanea Golf Club.
Ashley Menne (66), Grace Summerhays (68) and Beth Coulter (68) paced the 21st-ranked (Golfweek/Sagarin) Sun Devils to an opening-round score of 17-under 275 and the first-round lead in a gathering of the Pac-12 women's teams -- plus Hawai'i -- in Kailua, Kona.
The Sun Devils' first-round score relative to par was the lowest mark in program history.
"We are so proud of the grind and grit this team showed today," said ASU head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "We have struggled in our first round this fall and today we broke through in a major way. Our goal was 15 birdies today and we blew that away with 27 birdies and an eagle. Starting the first day on the road with this strong strength of the field is what we have been working for all fall. We are looking forward to tomorrow."
Top-ranked Stanford, playing without the services of Rachel Heck, is four back of the Sun Devils after turning in a 13-under 279 while 16th-ranked Arizona is five off the pace after carding a 12-under 280. California (-9) and UCLA (-7) round out the top-five.
Menne and Julia Misemer of Arizona lead all individuals after both players shot 7-under rounds of 66 on the par-73, 6449-yard layout. Menne had eight birdies against just one bogey on her card while Misemer's round was highlighted by an eagle on Nanea's par-4, 385-yard first home, which was her fifth hole of the day.
Misemer's 66 ties Lorena Ochoa, Manon Gidali and Haley Moore for the second-lowest round by a freshman in program history.
"We could not have asked for a better opening day than today," said Arizona head coach Laura Ianello. "Julia was sensational all day and finished with one of the greatest rounds in program history. Our entire lineup was strong throughout the day, and I could not be happier with where we are heading into Tuesday. A strong opening day sets the stage for another great round of golf tomorrow, and I am looking forward to seeing us attack every hole with a great amount of confidence."
Rose Zhang of Stanford and Cal's Christine Ochoa are just one off the pace after turning in bogey-free 6-under rounds of 67.
The Cardinal also counted sub-par rounds by Brooke Seay (69), Megha Ganne (71) and Sadie Englemann (72) for an opening rounds score of 13-under 279.
In addition to Misemer, Gile Bite Starkute (70) and Carolina Melgrati (72) were also in red numbers for Arizona.
All told, 20 players managed to break par in the first round.
UCLA's Alessia Nobilio, who finds herself tied for ninth after opening with a 3-under 70, aced Nanea's par-3, 176-yard 11th hole.
On a day when Nanea was yielding its share of birdies, sixth-ranked Oregon (-4) and 13th-ranked USC (+4) had a hard time of taking advantage of the favorable scoring conditions.
The Pac-12 Preview continues tomorrow and Wednesday on Kona. The field will have a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. PT/7:30 a.m. HT.
ABOUT THE Pac-12 Women's Preview
The Pac-12 members get together to hold a
conference
championship preview
as the fall season nears its conclusion.
Team (best four scores out of five players) and
individual competitions.
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