April 18, 2011

Complete Results in PDF Format

HOLLISTER, Calif. - Freshman Tai Jade `TJ' Kliebphipat helped lead a Gonzaga first-day charge Monday that has the Bulldogs in second place after 36 holes of the West Coast Conference Championship.

Kliebphipat had rounds of 75-76 for a 36-hole total of 151 and a tie for fifth heading into Tuesday's final round over the 6,342-yard, par 72 San Juan Oaks Golf Club layout.

Sophomore Victoria Fallgren shot 76-78 for 154 and is tied for 10th, senior Sage Suffecool is tied for 12th at 155 after rounds of 80-75, junior Stephanie Corey shot a 79-77 for 156 and is 15th and junior Jessica Howe is at 158 in 16th place after rounds of 77-81.

"It was a pretty solid day for us," Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel said. "Everybody contributed. We had a bad start to the second round, but I'm very proud of how we stuck with it and battled."

The Bulldogs posted rounds of 307-306 for 613 and a 4-stroke lead over the University of San Francisco. Pepperdine University is all but assured a 10th straight title and the Waves; 13th in the 15 years of the event after shooting a 587 for a 26-shot lead over the Bulldogs. Gonzaga's best finish has been third three times, the last in 2007.

This year's tournament also took on a new look with the addition of affiliate member Seattle University, the Redhawks shooting 658 for fifth place after day one.

Kliebphipat had a pair of birdies in each round and finished the 36 holes with 22 pars. She had birdie 3s on the 425-yard 17th hole in the first round and the 414-yard 18th in the second round.

"TJ was solid all day. We are looking forward to tomorrow and hope to have our best round," Rickel said.

Suffecool rallied from an opening-round 80 that included one birdie, seven bogeys and a double-bogey to have a birdie, four bogeys and 13 pars in the afternoon round.

Double bogeys were the downfall of the Bulldogs all day as every player had at least one on the way to nine as a team.