USC Women’s Golf advances to Pac-12 Championship with first-round lead

Women’s Golf | April 17, 2023

Senior Malia Nam turned in his low round in two years at 4-under 68 as a freshman Catherine Park and a sophomore Amari Avery were also under par to lead the USC women’s golf team to a 15th-place finish after the first round of the 2023 Pac-12 Women’s Championship on Monday (April 17) at Papago GC in Phoenix.

The Trojans combined for 9-under 279 and take a 3-stroke lead into Tuesday’s second round. Arizona is second, while No. 1 Stanford is third at 1 under.

Nam’s 68 was his best round since the first round of the 2021 Pac-12 Championships and placed him in second place, once off the lead. It was also his 14th career 60 at USC and tied for eighth on the Trojan career mark.

Nam finished with a 68 thanks to a brilliant 5-under-9, which led to an overall Trojan surge that saw USC move to a collective 15-under.

Park and Avery were both 3-under on the second 9. Park is fourth with a 3-under 69 for his second round in the 60s this season and Avery is tied for fifth at 2-under. It was Avery’s team-best 14-under-par round.

Junior Brianna navarrosa was also 3-under on the back, using it to post an even round. He is exactly 16.

Second year student Xin (Cindy) Kou ended USC’s effort and is 31st at 2-74.

USC begins second-round play on Tuesday at 9:40 a.m. PT.