Gonzaga University
Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational Day 1
Zags Begin Play in Hawaii
3/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
KANE'OHE, Hawaii-The Gonzaga University women's golf team begin its penultimate regular season tournament Tuesday, playing the first and second rounds of the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational at Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course in Kane'ohe, Hawaii.
Leading the way after two rounds is junior Ciera Min, who's tied for 15th with a two-round total of 147 (+3). Playing in her home state, the Hilo, Hawaii, native cut five strokes during the two rounds, carding a 4-over 76 during round one and a 1-under 71 in the second. It's her third round under par in 2015-16 and first of the spring season. She played 25 holes at par Tuesday, tied for the fifth-most in the tournament.
Just one stroke off Min's pace, sophomore Dania Uy turned in a solid day, carding 148 strokes (+4). During the first round, she played her first round under par of the season and second of her career, shooting 71 (-1) during the morning loop. During the second round, she shot 77 (+5), moving into a tie for 17th. She counted five birdies on the day, three of them coming during the opening round.
Freshman Bianca Pagdanganan is next up for the Zags, coming in with 153 strokes (+9) during the first day. She shot 76 (+4) and 77 (+5), respectively, and is tied for 41st. Like Min, Pagdanganan is tied for the fifth-most holes parred in the tournament with 25.
Fellow freshman Jena Gao trimmed three strokes during her first and second rounds, Tuesday, shooting 159 (+15) on the day. She shot 81 (+9) and 78 (+6), respectively. Rounding out the Zags' lineup, senior Raychelle Santos is one stroke back at 160 (+16), after shooting 79 (+7) and 81 (+9).
As a team, the Zags are eighth at 605 strokes (+29), shooting 302 (+14) and 303 (+15). They're just three shots back of sixth-place Fresno State and Hawaii, who each have 602. Oklahoma State leads the team competition with 569 strokes (-7), while the Cowgirls' Maddie McCrary leads the race for medalist honors at 139 (-5).
"We didn't show enough energy today," said Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel. "We came out a bit flat and couldn't recover. Dania was our bright spot in the morning round and play very solidly. Ciera had an equally good afternoon round as well. In general, though, we left too many shots out there. Our short games were not good enough and we didn't play smart when we should have."
The Zags will finish out the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational on Tuesday, March 23, with the tournament's final 18 holes. The third round will begin at 11:00 a.m. Pacific (8:00 a.m. Hawaiian), again at the 6,099-yard Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course in Oahu.
