USC Athletics

The No. 1 USC women's golf team, on a two-match win streak among five victories this season, began its final regular-season event with a 3-over 291 and is tied for second after 18 holes of the Silverado Showdown at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif.
 
The Trojans are tied with UCLA and Northwestern, two back of San Jose State and three ahead of fifth-place Stanford. USC is playing without three oft-use starters in junior Allisen Corpuz and sophomores Jennifer Chang and Alyaa Abdulghny, who all played in the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur earlier this week.
 
Junior Aiko Leong, in her second start of the season, joined freshman Malia Nam in a tie for third at 1-under 71, a season best for Leong. She posted three birdies on the day while Nam had two, including one on 17.
 
Sophomore Gabriela Ruffels is tied for 10^th after a 72 that saw two birdies on an even front nine and nine pars on the back. Like Nam, it is Ruffels' second straight round of par or better.
 
Freshman Katherine Muzi made her first career start as a Trojan and is tied for 58^th at 5-over 77 with a counting score that included five birdies.
 
Sophomore Amelia Garvey eagled the par 4 first hole but ultimately finished the day tied for 66th at 6-over 78.
 
USC tees off with UCLA and San Jose State beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday.