USC Athletics

Junior Allisen Corpuz fired a 1-under 69 and sophomore Jennifer Chang churned out a par round to lead the top-ranked USC women's golf team during the first round of the PING/ASU Invitational at the Papago G.C. in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday (March 29).
 
The Trojans, coming off of their recent fourth win, held the lead briefly midway through the opening round before finishing at 5-over 293, tied for fifth and six back of first-place Stanford. Host Arizona State is second, one back of the Cardinal.
 
Corpuz's fine round didn't go toward USC's team total unfortunately as she's playing individually this week. It was her best round since a 69 at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge on Feb. 4. Corpuz, with five birdies today, is tied for seventh, four back.
 
Chang is tied for 15^th after her even round, her fourth straight round of par or better and sixth in the last eight. Her second birdie today on 15 evened her day.
 
Freshman Malia Nam is tied for 22^nd after a 1-over 73. She was 2-under through 13 holes before a couple late bobbles. Sophomores Alyaa Abdulghany and Amelia Garvey are tied for 30^th at 2-over 74 while sophomore Gabriela Ruffels is tied for 51^st at 4-over 76.
 
USC will tee off tomorrow starting at 8:45 a.m., paired with Oregon and Furman.