Parks Leads Dawgs Charge at Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational

Monday, October 4

Tacoma CC -- Lakewood, Wash.

All Day

University of Washington

Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational

Parks Leads Dawgs Charge at Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational

October 04, 2010 | Women's Golf

By: Washington Athletics

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LAKEWOOD, Wash. - Under surprising, but definitely welcome sunny skies at Tacoma Country & Golf Club, the Washington Husky women's "A" Team shot a collective 5-over 293 and are alone in third place out of 15 teams after Monday's first round of the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational.

Leading the way for Washington was junior Sadena Parks, who grew up in Bethel just outside of Tacoma and has played the 6,078 yard par-72 course numerous times over the years. With familiarity on her side - plus some much-needed resilience - Parks shot a 2-under 70 and sits alone in fourth place after 18 holes.

Parks had been struggling with her wedges and spent some much-needed time on the range this past week with UW assistant Andrea VanderLende. After a double-bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, Parks' hard work paid off when she knocked in her second shot on the par-4 fifth hole from 73 yards out to score and eagle. From there, Parks' scorecard was flawless and she added a couple birdies to end her day in the red.

"I came into the round very positive and it paid off," said Parks, who shot a 67 in a practice round at TCGC on Saturday. "I've played this course so many times, even before college. I'm just really confident right now."

Senior Anya Alvarez also turned in a solid round for the Huskies. She was slow to get off the ground and was two over after six holes. From there, Alvarez had four birdies to go along with one bogey and ended up 1-under 71. She is one rung behind Parks on the leaderboard ladder, alone in fifth.

Three individuals are tied for the lead at 4-under par 68. Cal has two tied for the lead - Emily Childs and Joanne Lee - while USC is represented by Sophia Popov.

Overall, the Huskies are third in the team standings after day one, finishing ahead of four ranked squads. California, the 2009 tournament champions, shot a collective 4-under 284 and lead USC by one stroke. Breathing down the Huskies' necks on the leaderboard is UC-Davis at +10 and in fourth. Stanford is fifth (+11), followed by Pepperdine (+13), New Mexico State (+17), Oregon State (+18), Gonzaga (+19) and Oregon (+19) to round out the top-10. Washington's "B" team is 15th at +30.

With so many great teams behind the Huskies, UW coach Mary Lou Mulflur is proud of her team's play, but is optimistically cautious. She knows her Huskies could have scored lower and will need to do so in order to stay in contention.

"It's a good start," said Mulflur. "We played well and had some people really step up. We need to get more out of our short game. We left a lot of shots out there from 40-50 yards in, but overall I thought it went well for us."

Freshman Kelli Bowers shot a 3-over 75 and entered the clubhouse as the third-highest Husky individual in a tie for 23rd. Three Huskies - Karinn Dickinson, Darcie Richmond and Nicole Ferrero - shot a 5-over 77 and are tied for 35th.

Brittany Tallman and Katie Saucier each shot an 8-over 80 and are tied for 52th. Keely Lavelle shot a 9-over 81 and A Ram Choi shot a 10-over 82.

Second round tee times start at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Washington's "B" team is slated to tee off starting at 9:22 a.m., while the Washington "A" squad will tee off from No. 1 starting at 10:30 a.m.

• NOTES: It was discovered long after the teams left the course that Oregon's Raphaela Dyer signed an incorrect scorecard, disqualifying her from the first round. Oregon, originally was fourth, but dropped all the way down to a tie for ninth in the standings.

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Course:Tacoma Country & Golf Club: Par 72 - 6078 yards

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