Cindy Kou 68, Katherine Muzi 69 Lead USC Women's Golf In ANNIKA Invitational Opener

Freshman Xin (Cindy) Kou fired a 4-under 68 while senior Katherine Muzi carded a collegiate career best 3-under 69 to lead the USC No. 11 women's golf team during the season-opening round of the ANNIKA Invitational at Royal G.C. in Lake Elmo, Minn., on Monday (Sept. 13).

The Trojans, a two-time winner of the event, combined for a 1-under 287, tied for fourth in the 12-team field. South Carolina leads at 10-under with Duke at 3-under, Wake Forest at 2-under.

Kou's 68 was USC's lowest in the first round of a season since Tiffany Chan opened the 2016-17 campaign with a 67, also at the ANNIKA Invitational. Her 68 was Troy's lowest debut round since Robynn Ree carded the same number at the start of the 2015-16 season, again, at the ANNIKA Invitational.

Kou, from Beijing and tied for third, went out at 2-under on the second nine and used birdies on 7 and 9 to seal her first-round 68.

Muzi broke 70 for the first time as a Trojan on the strength of her opening nine holes, a 3-under showing that included birdies on three of her first four holes. She is tied for eighth.

Sophomores Brianna Navarrosa and Christine Wang are tied for 38th at 3-over while junior Alexa Melton is tied for 51st at 6-over.