USC's Brianna Navarrosa Takes Lead After Pac-12 Women's Golf Championships First Round

Sophomore Brianna Navarrosa equaled her best effort of the season with a 2-under 70 to take the 2022 Pac-12 Women's Golf Championships first-round lead while helping No. 9 USC to second place after 18 holes on Monday (April 18) at the Eugene (Ore.) C.C.

The Trojans, seeking their third consecutive Pac-12 title following wins in 2019 and 2021, combined for a 4-over 292 and sit two shots back of top-ranked Stanford while Washington and Arizona State are tied for third at 6-over. Six teams are within six strokes of the Cardinal.

Navarrosa took the first-round lead with one of her best rounds of the year, going out on the back 9 start at even with birdies on 11 and 16 and coming back at 2-under with birdies on 4 and 6.

Navarossa's best finish this year is a tie for eighth among three top 11 finishes. USC has won six Pac-12 individual titles overall, but none since 2013.

It's the second year in a row a Trojan has dotted the top of the leaderboard after 18 holes as Amelia Garvey was tied for first after the first round in 2021.

"I'm really pleased with the overall performance from today," USC Coach Justin Silverstein said. "The entire group hung tough in very difficult conditions and put up a great opening round.  Bri put together one of her most disciplined rounds of the year and it resulted in a phenomenal score. She was very patient with her iron play and capitalized on some makable birdie opportunities."

Senior Katherine Muzi and freshmen Amari Avery and Xin (Cindy) Kou are tied for 14th at 2-over 74. All got off to slow starts, but Muzi finished her final 12 holes at 2-under, Kou wrapped her final 13 holes at par and Avery completed her final 14 holes at par. Morard is tied for 40th at 6-over 78.

USC will join Stanford in the last pairings in Tuesday's second round, starting at 10:30 a.m. off of 1.