NAPA, Calif. -- Washington is off to a hot start at the Silverado Invitational, holding a one-shot lead versus No. 1 Southern California. The Dawgs sit at 5-over 581 after 36 holes at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa.
Washington jumped out to the lead in the morning with a round of 1-over 289. At that point, the Dawgs had a two-stroke lead against No. 20 Northwestern. In the afternoon, the top-ranked Trojans fought back with the low round of the session, but the Dawgs clung to the lead with second round of 4-over 293.
USC is just one shot back at 6-over for the tournament, while Oregon State is in third at 7-over. Northwestern fell back to fourth at 9-over, while No. 9 Arizona is in fifth at 14-over.
The Dawgs were led by SooBin Kim, who sits in third place at 5-under. Kim opened with a 4-under 68 and followed that up with a round of 1-under 71. She is three strokes off the overall lead set by Lindsey Weaver at 8-under. Kim made 10 birdies on the day, including three in-a-row on 16, 17 and 18 in the first round as part of her 68.
Also off to a hot start is Charlotte Thomas who is tied for 12th at 1-over. Thomas finished with rounds of even-par 72 and 1-over 73. She made 16 pars in a steady early round, before four birdies and five bogeys in the afternoon.
Sitting in a tie for 22nd is Eimi Koga after rounds of 1-over 73 and 3-over 75. Koga, freshman for the Huskies is 4-over for the day after making five birdies and nine bogeys on the day.
The final Husky to have both of her scores used was Ying Luo. Luo had rounds of 4-over 76 and 1-over 73 and is tied for 27th at 5-over for the tournament.
Kelli Bowers is tied for 65th after a pair of rounds of 8-over 80.
