FAIRFAX, Calif. — Freshman Jennifer Koga is tied for for second place and the Sacramento State women's golf team if fifth following the first day of the Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational on Monday.
Koga shot rounds of 70-75 and is three strokes off the lead heading into Tuesday's final round. The true freshman played her first nine holes at even par with birdies on the par-3 11th and par-5 13th along with birdies on No. 10 and No. 14. She began the front nine with a birdie on the par-5 first and dropped to 2-under following a birdie on the par-4 fourth. After a bogey on No. 5, Koga closed her round with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 bookending a bogey on No. 8. In the afternoon round, she again was even on the back nine with one birdie and one bogey. She had three bogeys and a double bogey on the first six holes of the front nine but rallied with birdies on the par-3 eighth and par-5 ninth.
Tess Blair ranks second on the team and is tied for 13th after shooting 74-75-149. Blair encountered early trouble in her opening round with two bogeys and a double bogey over her first five holes. Birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 returned her to 2-over before she bogeyed Nos. 18 and 1. From there, Blair played her last eight holes at 2-under with birdies on the par-4 third and par-5 ninth. She continued the momentum in the second round where she was 3-under through her first six holes with the help of birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 15. A bogey on No. 18 placed her at 2-under in the round but she added six bogeys on the first eight holes of the front nine to move to 4-over. The second-year player finished her day with her second birdie on No. 9.
Miki Manta helped the team in the morning round with an even-par round of 72. Manta was 4-under on the back nine as she birdied Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 16. The front side of the course was not as kind as she eventually stood at 1-over following three bogeys and a double bogey. However, Manta birdied No. 18 to end even and post the second best score of her collegiate career. She shot 82 in the second round with three bogeys, two double bogeys and a triple bogey.
Corinne Viden shot 81-74 and is tied for 39th. Viden was even through her first five holes of the day but played Nos. 15-18 at 7-over. She steadied her round with five pars to start the front nine and finished the round at 9-over. Viden's second round was highlighted by an eagle on the 492-yard, par-5 first hole which took her to even for the round. She closed the day with six pars and bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5.
Sydney Smith completed the lineup by shooting 83-78. Smith's first round was comprised of six bogeys, a double bogey and a triple bogey. She came back in the afternoon to have four birdies which tied Blair for the most on the team. Smith also had seven bogeys and a double bogey.
Washington built a 14-stroke lead in the team standings during the first day. The Huskies totaled 579 and are 3-over as team. BYU is second with Stanford, San Jose State and Sacramento State completing the top five of the 12-team field.
Sacramento State will start the third round at 7:30 off the first tee. The team will be paired with San Jose State and San Diego State with groups going off in eight minute increments.
JULI INKSTER AT MEADOW CLUB INVITATIONAL
Fairfax, Calif | Meadow Club
Par 72 | 6,157 Yards
Team Standings
1. Washington 287-292-579
2. Brigham Young 291-302-593
3. Stanford 295-300-595
4. San Jose State 296-301-597
5. Sacramento State 297-302-599
6. San Diego State 296-306-602
7. California 295-308-603
8. Fresno State 298-306-604
9. Pepperdine 306-308-614
10. Cal Poly 304-311-615
11. UC Davis 309-312-621
12. San Francisco 315-311-626
Individual Top Five
1. Stefanie Deng, UW, 74-68-142
T2. Jennifer Koga, SAC, 70-75-145
T2. Kajsa Arwefhall, SJSU, 73-72-145
T2. Rachel Heck, STAN, 72-73-145
T2. Antonia Malate, SJSU, 72-73-145
T2. Bernice Ilas, SDSU, 72-73-145
T2. Rino Sasaki, UW, 68-77-145
Sacramento State Scores
T2. Jennifer Koga 70-75-145
T13. Tess Blair 74-75-149
T34. Miki Manta 72-82-154
T39. Corinne Viden 81-74-155
T59. Sydney Smith 83-78-161
