PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Defending national champion and unanimous preseason No. 1 Stanford women's golf made its 2022-23 debut on Friday at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first round of the Carmel Cup. The Cardinal finds itself in a familiar position, tied for first at 2-under and eight shots clear of third place.
Stanford is led by Rose Zhang, whose 4-under 68 is good for second place and two strokes off the lead of Texas A&M's Jennie Park. The 2022 national champion and Player of the Year, Zhang made six birdies against two bogeys throughout the first round of her sophomore campaign.
Making her much anticipated collegiate debut, freshman Megha Ganne fired a 3-under 69 and is tied for third. Ganne bogeyed her first career hole, but rebounded nicely with five birdies against one bogey over her final 13 holes of Friday's round.
Junior Sadie Englemann is tied for fifth following a 2-under 70, a strong start to her junior campaign. In the play-six, score-five format of the Carmel Cup, Caroline Sturdza and Rachel Heck also scored on Friday.
The exclusive eight-team field begins second-round play at 6:50 a.m. Saturday morning with the Cardinal slated to begin its round at 8:02 a.m.
Carmel Cup (Pebble Beach Golf Links, par 72)
| Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1. Stanford | 358 (-2) | -- | -- | 358 (-2) |
| 2. Rose Zhang | 68 (-4) | -- | -- | 68 (-4) |
| T3. Megha Ganne | 69 (-3) | -- | -- | 69 (-3) |
| T5. Sadie Englemann | 70 (-2) | -- | -- | 70 (-2) |
| T21. Caroline Sturdza | 75 (+3) | -- | -- | 75 (+3) |
| T24. Rachel Heck | 76 (+4) | -- | -- | 76 (+4) |
| T27. Brooke Seay | 77 (+5) | -- | -- | 77 (+5) |