USC Athletics

Sophomore Jennifer Chang carded an even 72 while junior Allisen Corpuz and freshman Malia Nam registered a pair of 73s as the No. 1 USC women's golf team opened a 6-stroke lead after 18 holes of the 2019 Clover Cup in Mesa, Ariz., on Friday (March 15).
 
The Trojans, three-time winners this season but still looking for their first victory this spring, finished the first round at 4-over 292, six strokes better than both Kentucky and Mississippi State while Oklahoma is seven back and host Notre Dame trails by 11.
 
Chang is tied for third after her 72, mixing three birdies and three bogeys today. Her birdie on 18 got her back to par.
 
Corpuz and Nam are tied for seventh at 1-over. Corpuz made the turn at 3-over but carded a 2-under back 9 with birdies on 15 and 18. Nam turned at par, fell to 3-over through 14, but collected an eagle on 15 en route to her 1-over day.
 
Sophomore Amelia Garvey turned around a challenging round with a strong finish to tie for 11^th at 2-over 76. She was 6-over through 12 holes but birdied four of the final six holes, including three straight between 13 and 15 as well as another on 17.
 
Sophomore Gabriela Ruffels also finished strong, using birdies on 15 and 18 to climb back to 3-over 75, tied for 16^th overall.
 
Junior Aiko Leong, playing individually, put together her best round of the season with a 2-over 74 to join Garvey in 11^th. Sophomore Alyaa Abdulghany, also playing individually, carded a 4-over 76 and is tied for 22^nd.