Creswell, OR. – Jorgen Lie Viken took the individual lead while both Lewis-Clark State Golf teams sit in the top two after the opening round of the Cascade Conference Golf Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Emerald Valley Golf Club.
“First round was up and down for both teams, but a solid start,” LC coach Zach Anderson said. “It was a grind for everyone, but we weathered the storm.”
Viken holds a four-shot advantage over Aidan Schumer of UBC after the opening round. He tied his LC State career-low with a 66.
The senior started early with his first of seven birdies on No. 1. He added birdies on Nos. 4, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 18 with bogies on Nos. 5 and 10.
Devon Caruso currently sits in a tie for eighth place after shooting a 4-over 75. Juan Pablo Quisoboni recorded a birdie on each of his last three holes and is currently tied for 13th place after shooting a 76.
The No. 20 Warrior men are tied with No. 10 British Columbia after the first round, both posting a 295-team score. Bushnell is only six strokes back in third.
Deana Caruso bounced back from a rough four-hole stretch to finish the first day in a tie for fourth place. Caruso bogeyed Nos. 11, 12 and 13 before a tough triple bogey on No. 14. The junior was 5-over after six holes played. Three birdies and two bogies in the final 12 holes helped Caruso finish with a 4-over 76.
“Deana fought back to post a good round,” Anderson said.
Kyla Currie, Kylee Hughes and Dallis Shockey are part of a six-golfer tie for eighth place. Each golfer finished with an 8-over 80.
“The freshmen girls stepped up today,” Anderson said. “Kylee and Dallis had some great rounds going, but just made some bogeys coming in.”
The Warrior women sit comfortably in second place after the opening round after a 316-point team score. No. 1 British Columbia jumped out to a 25-stroke lead after shooting 291 as a team. Oregon Tech is in third place, 15-strokes behind the Warriors.
Jessica Ng of UBC leads the individual standings with a 2-under 70. The Thunderbirds hold the top three positions.
The second round begins at 8:30 a.m. PT on Tuesday.
MEN
Team scores – T1, LC State 295. T1, British Columbia 295. 3, Bushnell 301. 4, Southern Oregon 308. 5, Multnomah 310. 6, College of Idaho 311. 7, Oregon Tech 316. 8, Corban 322. 9, Walla Walla 323.
Individual Leader – Jorgen Lie Viken, LC State 66.
LC State – 1, Jorgen Lie Viken 66. T8, Devon Caruso 75. T13, Juan Pablo Quisoboni 76. T19, Bryden Brown 78. T23, Sondre Andersen 79.
WOMEN
Team scores – 1, British Columbia 291. 2, LC State 316. 3, Oregon Tech 331. 4, Corban 365. 5, Southern Oregon 366. 6, Walla Walla 402.
Individual Leader – Jessica Ng, British Columbia 70.
LC State – T4, Deana Caruso 76. T9, Dallis Shockey 80. T9, Kyla Currie 80. T9, Kylee Hughes 80. 15, Alexandra Schmidt 81.