WORLEY, Idaho - Host Gonzaga University got a second-round 71 from freshman Alice Kim to highlight the first day of the Circling Raven Collegiate Invitational women's golf tournament Monday, the Bulldogs tied for ninth heading into Tuesday's final 18 holes.
Kim shot an opening-round 81 but tamed the second round with her 1-under par 71 to leave her tied for 10th at 152 after 36 holes over the 6,111-yard, par 72 Circling Raven Golf Course.
Gonzaga had rounds of 312-315 for a 36-hole total of 627, well off the pace of leader Washington State University at 605. The Cougars lead the University of San Francisco by nine strokes.
Caitlyn McCleary of Seattle University shot 70-70 for 140 and a 5-shot lead over Kristen Allard of WSU in the battle for medalist honors.
Kim and McCleary had the lone under-par rounds of the day, which started sunny and calm but saw a 10 mph wind kick up for the second round.
Victoria Fallgren, playing No. 1 for the Bulldogs, shot 76-79 for 155 and a tie for 22nd. Senior Jessica Howe had an opening-round 76 but shot a second-round 82 for 158 and a tie for 46th in the 116-player field. Freshman Han Wu also made her collegiate debut for the Bulldogs, shooting 79-83 for 162. Stephanie Corey, playing as an individual, shot 75-78 for 153 and a tie for 13th.
Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel looks for better things form his squad Tuesday.
"I don't think we came close to playing our best golf. Every player had some great stretches and some not-so-great stretches. We have to figure out a way to play the front side better tomorrow. The front side was our downfall today. But I'm excited about freshman Alice Kim's second round 71. To get an under-par round in your second round of college golf is pretty impressive," Rickel said.
Rickel said a tough course became tougher when the wind picked up.
"The course played tough, the wind kicked up mid-day and stayed up most of the day. The wind and the drying out and firming up of the greens just made everything a little harder than it would have been," Rickel said.
Rickel said staying home and hosting a tournament "is exciting. I think it's been a successful tournament so far, the teams are enjoying themselves and playing some great golf on a great golf course."
Two-time defending champion Northern Arizona is well off the pace at 634. BYU, which tied NAU last year but lost in a scorecard playoff, is fourth at 616.
The Bulldogs are getting a look at some of the West Coast Conference competition this week as USF and BYU are WCC foes, BYU in its first year of membership after officially joining the conference July 1.
Tuesday's final round begins with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
