April 24, 2000
Eugene, Ore.--- Despite another solid performance from junior Jennifer Dodd (Portland, Ore), the first round of the Pac-10 Championship is one that head coach Walt Williams would like to forget.
"They were just a nervous wreck," Williams said. "We were playing with the number one ranked team in the nation, Arizona, and they were shook. They were really rattled. They fought hard and tried but when you're playing with Arizona it doesn't get any better."
Two of Williams' players, true freshmen Donna Bell (Prince George, BC) and Shanelle Roberts (Tacoma, Wash.), are making their first appearance in the conference tournament and were bothered by a case of early round nerves. Bell shot an 86 while Roberts carded an 82 and is tied with sophomore teammate Tasha Browner (Tarzana, Calif.) in 48th place.
Coming off the best performance of her career at the Peg Barnard California Collegiate, Dodd is playing in her home state and turned in a first round 76. The Portland native is tied for 18th, six strokes behind tournament leader Amanda Moltke-Leth of UCLA. Fellow Oregonian and teammate Jenny Ballou (Portland, Ore.) shot an 81 on Monday and is locked with two other players, including Cougar sophomore Becky Greggain, at 45th. Greggain is playing as an individual and her scores do not go towards Washington State's total.
WSU is playing with the pressure of a possible first-ever trip to the NCAA West Regional, in addition to the nerves of competing in a conference championship. Williams hopes that the early jitters will be gone on Tuesday.
"We are playing with Oregon State tomorrow and I expect us to do a lot better," Williams said. "They are somebody we have played with before and we may be a little more comfortable."
Southern California fired a 292 and leads the tournament, which is being played at the par-72 Eugene Country Club, by seven strokes over number-one ranked Arizona. California and UCLA are tied for third after shooting first round 301s. Washington State carded a 321 on Monday.
Moltke-Leth of UCLA shot a two-under par 70 and has a one stroke lead over USC's Candie Kung, Arizona's Jill Gomric, and Oregon's Anika Heuser. They were the only four players under par on the first day of competition.
Washington State tees off at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and will play 18 holes.
WSU RESULTS:
T18) Jennifer Dodd 76
T45) Jenny Ballou 81
T48) Tasha Browner 82
T48) Shanelle Roberts 82
60) Donna Bell 86
TOP FIVE PLAYERS:
1) Amanda Moltke-Leth, UCLA 70
2) Candie Kung, USC 71
Jill Gomric, Arizona 71
Anika Heuser, Oregon 71
5) Mikaela Parmlid, USC 72
Linda Ishii, USC 72
TEAM RESULTS:
1) USC (292) 2) Arizona (299) 3) California (301), UCLA (301) 5) Stanford (302) 6) Oregon (308) 7) Washington (311) 8) Arizona State (312) 9) Oregon State (314) 10) Washington State (321)
---www.wsucougars.com---
