The WSU women’s golf team got off to a strong start after day one of play at the Clash at Boulder Creek tournament on Oct. 20. The three-day tournament marks the final event of the autumn season, as both the men’s and women’s golf team’s will not play again until the spring. 

The Cougs finished day one in eighth place out of seventeen teams, placing them among the top half of the competition. Two golfers found themselves tied in 17th place after round one. 

That would be sophomore Alice Johansson and senior Madelyn Gamble, who both shot two-under-par in round one. Johansson notched four birdies while Gamble tallied three of her own. 

“We played well today and hope to make a few more birdies tomorrow,” said WSU coach Kevin Tucker. 

For Gamble, her strong start marks a return to the top of the leaderboard after her struggles early in the fall. She previously finished 55th and 64th in the past two tournaments WSU has competed in. 

Senior Sarah Skovgaard Bils and sophomore Sara Pineros both shot two-over par in the opening round, while freshman Grace Rubelsky scored three-over, sitting at the back of the pack for WSU but still firmly in the top 50 overall. With two days remaining, the Cougars will hope to finish strong as they head into their winter break.