UW Tied for Third After Day One of NCAA Regionals

Monday, May 8

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University of Washington

NCAA Regionals

May 08, 2017 | Women's Golf

NCAA Regionals Day One Results Round Two Tee Times/Pairings

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of Washington showcased a strong front nine after starting on hole 10 to finish tied for third after the first day of the 2017 NCAA Albuquerque Regional hosted by the University of New Mexico at The Championship Course. The Huskies shot a 7-over 295, which is just eight strokes off the lead following a sunny but somewhat windy day in Albuquerque.

After opening the day on holes 10-18 and making the turn at 8-over, Washington rebounded and went 1-under par over its final nine holes which included six birdies, two each by Julianne Alvarez and Karen Miyamoto.

"Our sophomores were really steady for us today which is what we know to expect from that group," said assistant coach Chessey Thomas. "This is where they're comfortable, in these high pressure postseason situations. They're just built for it and that showed today. We managed really well on our back nine and with these greens, that's what you have to do because the greens are what make this course difficult. It will be windy tomorrow but we just went through that at Pac-12's so we just have to continue to stay patient and play our game."

Washington was led by sophomores Alvarez and Sarah Rhee who each carded an even-par 72 during day one en route to finishing tied for fourth. Alvarez opened the day going 2-over during her first five holes but bounced back and went 2-under during the next 13 to earn her fourth-place tie.

"The one big thing I took away from last year's regionals is that you have to have patience in this setting and I think I managed that pretty well today," said Alvarez. "I felt really good about my putter on these greens because they are tricky but if we can just hit the ball a little closer and adjust for the wind a little bit more, we'll be alright."

Rhee led the 96-player field in pars on day one, carding 16 en route to her even-par 72. After posting a bogey on her eighth hole of the day (the par-4 17^th), Rhee didn't shake and went 1-under over the next 10 thanks to a birdie on the par-4 fourth hole. Her even-par 72 tied her best round of the season which she has hit four times since the fall season.

"I think that round was really good for Sarah, especially with how well she putted," added Thomas. "That's a huge key here. From what I saw, she did an amazing job of keeping her pace and when you do that, you make a lot of putts too."

Sophomore Wenyung Keh finished just behind her fellow teammates coming in tied for 14^th with a 1-over 73. Keh's first round featured a couple of blemishes but she didn't falter over the final nine as she closed them out at even par.

Rounding out the four-player scoring for the Huskies was freshman Karen Miyamoto who sits tied for 63^rd after posting a 6-over 78. Miyamoto, like her teammates, had a tough start to the day recording two doubles over her first nine but, also like her teammates, stepped up over the next nine with a 1-over en route to her 6-over total. Freshman Ellen Takada, who's score didn't count towards UW's overall total on Monday, sits in 92^nd after posting a 13-over 85.

No. 36 Pepperdine holds the team lead with the only under-par score of the day, 1-under 287. They are followed by No. 1 Stanford (2-over 290) and three teams tied for third, No. 6 USC, No. 26 California and the Huskies.

Day two action at the NCAA Regionals gets started for the Huskies at 7:24 a.m. PT on hole one as the Dawgs will be paired with California and Campbell.