TUCSON, Ariz. – Battling through tough conditions with wind gusts near 20 mph, Linnea Strom and Sophia Zeeb led Arizona State individually in a tie for sixth (74/+2) following the first day of play at the 2017 Pac-12 Women's Golf Championships at Sewailo Golf Club.
In fitting fashion and perfect timing for the start of the Sun Devils' "second season", the team moved into the No. 1 spot in Golfweek/Sagarin's Women's Team Collegiate rankings.
"There were very gusty winds today and we struggled with managing that because the conditions were much milder during the practice round yesterday," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "Linnea and Sophia managed the wind quite well and the rest just need to make a couple adjustments because the wind is going to be around tomorrow."
Strom birdied two holes on the front nine while Zeeb also birded two holes on the day, one on the front and one on the back.
Roberta Liti, Olivia Mehaffey, and Monica Vaughn rounded out the Sun Devils' five-member conference championship team. In sixth, ASU is just three strokes out of the top four.
"If we do a couple things better, we'll get back on track tomorrow and move up the leaderboard. This one day does not define our team; they've had a great year and what's most important is how we come back and compete tomorrow. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and this group who's worked so hard playing the conference championship the way I know they can."
A testament to the windy conditions, only the top two of the 55-player field shot under par on the first day.
ASU tees off for round two on hole one Tuesday morning between 8-8:32 am PT with Vaughn (8 a.m.) first followed by Mehaffey (8:08 a.m.), Liti (8:16 a.m.), Zeeb (8:24 a.m.), and Strom (8:32 a.m.). The Sun Devils will be paired with the host Wildcats Tuesday.
In fitting fashion and perfect timing for the start of the Sun Devils' "second season", the team moved into the No. 1 spot in Golfweek/Sagarin's Women's Team Collegiate rankings.
"There were very gusty winds today and we struggled with managing that because the conditions were much milder during the practice round yesterday," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "Linnea and Sophia managed the wind quite well and the rest just need to make a couple adjustments because the wind is going to be around tomorrow."
Strom birdied two holes on the front nine while Zeeb also birded two holes on the day, one on the front and one on the back.
Roberta Liti, Olivia Mehaffey, and Monica Vaughn rounded out the Sun Devils' five-member conference championship team. In sixth, ASU is just three strokes out of the top four.
"If we do a couple things better, we'll get back on track tomorrow and move up the leaderboard. This one day does not define our team; they've had a great year and what's most important is how we come back and compete tomorrow. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and this group who's worked so hard playing the conference championship the way I know they can."
A testament to the windy conditions, only the top two of the 55-player field shot under par on the first day.
ASU tees off for round two on hole one Tuesday morning between 8-8:32 am PT with Vaughn (8 a.m.) first followed by Mehaffey (8:08 a.m.), Liti (8:16 a.m.), Zeeb (8:24 a.m.), and Strom (8:32 a.m.). The Sun Devils will be paired with the host Wildcats Tuesday.