No doubt, they are three teams that arrive in Hawaii after very different fall seasons. Oregon and Cal are still searching for a win. USC has three wins – including one at the East Lake Cup (a mini match-play event) from less than a week ago. This is the first time since 2014 that the Trojans are playing for a fourth consecutive title.
"We've got a lineup that we haven't used this fall that we are very encouraged by," Nancy McDaniel said entering the event. "I feel like everyone is in a good mindset, going to Hawaii. It's what we need right now, we started slow this fall, but we've come along especially in our last round at Stanford."
After a tie for ninth at the Stanford Invitational (Cal moved up three spots in the final round and into a tie with UCLA), McDaniel’s team regrouped in Berkeley with a focus on short game and course management.
As for Oregon, a team under the direction of new head coach Derek Radley, under-par rounds from three of the four counters helped set up a solid day of scoring. Petra Salko had 2-under 71 and is T-9 individually. Tze-Han Lin and Amy Matsuoka contributed rounds of 1-under 72 and are tied for 12th.
Behind the top three teams, Colorado had a 2-under 290 to sit solo fourth. The Buffs counted a pair of 70s from Robyn Choi and Haley Nist. Choi is just two days removed from earning an LPGA card at the Q-Series, but has so far deferred LPGA membership.
Stanford is another shot back at 1 under and solo fifth.
Information from Cal, USC Athletics used in this report