The two Palouse teams started strong at the Washington State Cougar Cup Monday at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman. The Washington State women’s golf team took the lead after the first day shooting a two-round, six-under-par 570. Idaho, which is second, shot a 10-over-par 586.
Idaho senior Kaitlyn Oster heads into the second day tied for fifth place. She shot a 2-under-par 142 through the first two rounds. Senior Leilanie Kim is right on her teammate’s heels with a 143. Kim, who is tied for seventh, tied for the low-round score in the first round with a 69.
“I’m very proud of them (Oster and Kim),” Idaho coach Lisa Johnson said. “I mean it’s great to have the seniors play the best and they’ve grown a lot in their three years, three-plus years.”
Oster is four strokes behind the leader, who is Washington State’s Kristen Rue.
“I just played pretty steady the first 18,” Oster said. “The first nine was not as good. I wasn’t hitting the ball as well and the second nine I made a lot more birdies. Finished even the first round and then I just kind of carried that into the second round and knew I could play a lot better.”
Junior Kristin Strankman is tied for 16th after hitting a 148.
“She played very steady,” Johnson said of Strankman. “She made quite a few birdies. She made some mental mistakes, she made a couple physical mistakes at the wrong time, but for her to be four over is a good, solid day of golf.”
Sophomore Amy Hasenoehrl shot a 153 to tie for 30th and freshman Kendall Gray shot a 154 to tie for 34th. Idaho junior Cassie McKinley, who is playing as an individual, also tied for 34th.
This is Gray’s first collegiate invitational.
“She had a very promising first day,” Johnson said of Gray. “I was very impressed with how well she played. Right out of the gate she made a birdie on the first hole.”
Johnson said Gray played better the first round than the second and that 36 holes is a lot of golf. Johnson said Gray has played 36 rounds before but never in a college atmosphere.
Both Idaho and Washington State practice at Palouse Ridge, and Oster thinks knowing how the course plays is a benefit.
“I think it’s huge on this course,” Oster said. “We’ve played a lot of rounds here the last couple weeks. Definitely helps knowing where to hit it and where to miss.”
Oster said she hopes to get off to a fast start tomorrow.
“Hopefully just get a good night’s sleep and continue to feed off of today,” Oster said.
The invitational continues Tuesday at 8 a.m.
“A lot of the teams played really well today,” Johnson said. “It was a good, competitive day. We’re going to have to play well tomorrow to retain our spot or bump the leaderboard.”
BYU heads into the second day in third and just one stroke behind Idaho while Montana and Portland State are tied for fourth with scores of 591.
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected]