Amanda Linner Leads at Pac-12 Golf Championships

STANFORD, Calif. – Sun Devil Women's Golf completed day one at the Pac-12 Women's Golf Championship at Stanford Golf Course.
 
Arizona State (+7/291) sits in a tie for third after the first 18 holes, matching Arizona and UCLA. Host Stanford sits in second place, with everyone chasing USC, who paced the field with a 283 (-1) today. Five of the 10 teams competing are +12 or more, with the golf course presenting challenges. ASU has a chance to make up ground beginning tomorrow at 9:20 AM, as they tee-off every ten minutes on hole one.
 
"After a slow start, we played much better on the back nine as a team. The course played difficult today and the scores coming down the stretch showed that," Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked.
 
The Sun Devils managed to Improve their score by 11 strokes after making the turn, carding an additional five birdies on the back nine. They look to continue that momentum into tomorrow, sitting just two strokes out of second place entering the day. Coach Farr-Kaye's team had a great approach on par threes, with their 3.16 stroke average tied for the best of any team. The Maroon & Gold's 14 birdies and 52 pars are the third most of any team.
 
1          Southern California    283          -1
2          Stanford                      289          +5
T3        Arizona State              291          +7
T3        Arizona                       291          +7
T3        UCLA                         291          +7
 
Making her Pac-12 Championship debut, sophomore Amanda Linner enjoyed a breakout performance. She shot a career-best 67 (-4) and is tied with USC's Amelia Garvey for the overall lead. Linner is looking to become the second consecutive and 14 Sun Devil overall to win Conference Individual Medalist honors.
 
"Amanda had an amazing round at -4 and is co leader.," Coach Farr-Kaye observed. "We look forward to her performance tomorrow and moving up the leader board as a team."
 
Linner was fantastic throughout the round, but found her rhytym on the back nine. She finished bogey-free and went four-under, allowing her to move into a tie for the lead. Over her final 14 holes of the day, Linner was five-under. She caught fire right after making the turn, birdieing three consecutive holes to skyrocket into contention. She was the best in the field on par four opportunities, boasting a 3.67 stroke average. Linner's 14 birdies were tied for the most in the field.
 
T1        Amelia Garvey           Southern California    67          -4
T1        Amanda Linner           Arizona State              67          -4
T3        Malia Nam                 Southern California    68          -3
T3        Rachel Heck               Stanford                      68          -3
T3        Emma Spitz                UCLA                         68          -3
 
Reigning Pac-12 Golfer of the Month Linn Grant was the second-highest finishing Sun Devil, tied for 16th with a 73 (+2). She enjoyed a bogey-free back nine and finished two-under after making the turn, looking to carry the momentum into the second round. Grant's 12 pars were tied for the third most in the field.
 
The third Sun Devil in the Top-25 of the 53-golfer field is Alessandra Fanali, who is tied for 24th after the first round. Her five birdies were tied for the most of anyone in the field, showing flashes of why she is the second-highest ranked Sun Devil.
 
Alexandra Forsterling is a stroke behind Fanali and tied for 29th, while Ashley Menne is one stroke further back in a tie for 32nd. Every team has at least one individual outside the Top-32 except Arizona State.
 
Arizona State will begin the second round of the Pac-12 Women's Golf Championship tomorrow, starting at 9:20 AM PT. The Maroon & Gold will be paired with rival Arizona, with both teams deadlocked in third place. Here is how the Sun Devils will tee-off tomorrow:
 
Amanda Linner – 10:00 AM (Hole 1)
Linn Grant – 9:50 AM (Hole 1)
Alessandra Fanali – 9:40 AM (Hole 1)
Alexandra Forsterling – 9:30 AM (Hole 1)
Ashley Menne – 9:20 AM (Hole 1)
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Highlights from the first three rounds of the Women's Golf Championships will be available the evening after rounds complete on Pac-12 Networks, Pac-12 Now app, Pac-12.com and Pac-12 social media platforms.
 
The Pac-12 Women's Golf Championship Show will air on Pac-12 Network on Monday, April 26, at 8 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. MT to highlight the final round as well as memorable moments from throughout the championship event.
 
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Track your favorite Sun Devil with live scoring provided at the following link.
 
HISTORY AT THE PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP
No team has enjoyed more success at the Pac-10/12 Women's Golf Championships than Arizona State. Their 13 individual champions are six more than any other team, while their eight team championships are tied for first. Most recently, Olivia Mehaffey claimed the 2019 Individual Championship and is the reigning Pac-12 Champion. The Sun Devils last one as a team back in 2009 on their way to the program's seventh of eight NCAA Championships, with Coach Farr-Kaye serving as an Assistant Coach that year.
 
Legendary Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach Linda Vollstedt could be considered the queen of the Pac-10/12 Championships. Her teams won it a total of six times, including the first two in 1987 & 1988. Later in her career, Arizona State ran off four straight titles during their dominant run in the mid-90s, a feat that has never been matched since. ASU has two Top-3 finishes at the conference championships under Coach Farr-Kaye, finishing third in 2016 & 2019.