Scavo looks comfortable in taking Women's Trans lead

MARYSVILLE, CA. (July 20, 2018) - Several aspects of the Women’s Trans National Championship seemed to leave Kathleen Scavo feeling right at home. Scavo, a rising senior at the University of Oregon, is playing roughly 100 miles from her Benicia, Calif., home this week at Peach Tree Golf & Country Club in Marysville, Calif. Add to that a first-round pairing with Oregon teammate Madi Daniel, and it’s no wonder Scavo went on a birdie run on Tuesday. Scavo opened the Women’s Trans with five of them for a 4-under 68 that gave her an early one-shot lead in the 72-hole stroke-play event. Scavo, who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, was Oregon’s leading scorer last season. “Today my game was solid from tee to green,” Scavo said at the end of the day. “I always enjoy spending time with teammates.” Scavo is one of three Ducks – all from California -- playing in the event. Daniel’s 5-over 77 left her tied for 41st. Amy Matsuoka, however, birdied the 18th hole to close out a 1-under 71 and is tied for eighth. A handful of other college players are close on Scavo’s heels. SMU’s Kennedy Pedigo and Stanford’s Ziyi Wang each posted 3-under 69 to trail by one shot. Four players are another shot back in a tie for fourth. Brigitte Dunne, another SMU player, birdied the 18th hole to reach 2-under 70. The group also includes Katrina Prendergast, the Colorado State player who combined with college teammate Ellen Secor to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in May. Marianne Li, a rising Cal senior, and Samantha Hutchison, who will be a senior at UC Davis, are also at 2 under. Emilee Hoffman, a University of Texas player who won the Women’s Western Amateur earlier this summer, is in the mix after a 1-under 71 left her part of the tie for eighth.