Alvarez Scorches Down The Stretch At PING/ASU Invitational

Friday, April 1

Karsten GC -- Tempe, Ariz.

All Day

University of Washington

Lady Sun Devil Invitational

Alvarez Scorches Down The Stretch At PING/ASU Invitational

April 01, 2011 | Women's Golf

By: Washington Athletics

April 1, 2011

• Golfstat.com Live Scoring

TEMPE, Ariz. -- In what is becoming a familiar theme for the Husky women's golf team, senior Anya Alvarez led the UW contingent in the first round of the PING/ASU Invitational shooting a 2-under 70 at Karsten Golf Course.

As a team, Washington is tied for 9th after a 297 (+9). UCLA leads the field at -12. The only other schools under par are USC (-7) and Texas (-2).

"We played well today," said Husky Coach Mary Lou Mulflur. "We were hitting lots of birdies, but we just have to cut down the big scores."

The five Husky competitors combined for 14 birdies, but also had to count seven double-bogeys or worse during the day.

Alvarez, from Jenks, Okla., is tied for fifth out of 90 competitors. She has been the Huskies top finisher in five of the last six events she has competed in.

That Alvarez was able to finish under par is a testament to her impressive season. She was behind the eight-ball from the get go after triple-bogeying the opening hole of the tournament. For her, that would be her last bogey of the day.

"I was really proud of Anya," said Mulflur. "She could have easily shot in the mid-60s, but the big score on No. 1 and missing a few putts cost her. But, I am really proud of the way she bounced back after her start.

"She is playing really well right now."

Alvarez started turning the tables on the third hole with a birdie and by the eighth hole had gotten back to even after birdies on No. 6 and 7. She notched back-to-back birdies on No. 14 and 15 and shot par golf from there to enter the clubhouse with four other golfers.

UCLA's Tiffany Lau has a two stroke lead after shooting a 5-under 67.

Juniors Sadena Parks and Darcie Richmond each fired a 2-over 74 and enter Saturday's second round tied for 31st. Parks had a stretch of three birdies in four holes from No. 14-17 to get her score closer to par. Richmond had a nice round that included two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Senior Karinn Dickinson shot a 7-over 79. She was having a solid round at +1 through 13 holes before a quadruple bogey 7 on the par-3 16th hole followed back-to-back bogeys on No. 14 and 15. The heat played a role in her demise as she succumbed to the 99 degree temperatures and was sick by the end of the round.

Richmond was also sick after the round due to dehydration, but both golfers are expected to be fine by the start of tomorrow's second round.

Brittany Tallman's scorecard suffered a similar fate as Dickinson's down the stretch, going 7-over from holes 12-16 and ended up with an 80.

The tournament serves as the UW's final tune up before the Pac-10 Championships. The conference tournament will also be held at Karsten Golf Course, which is the home course of Arizona State.

Tee times start tomorrow at 8:20 a.m. PT for the Huskies on the 10th tee.