Leach, Solhaug Pace Golfers in Spring Opener

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, California – Greyson Leach shot a 3-under 69 and Gregory Solhaug backed that up with a 2-under-70 to help Oregon finish in third place after the opening round of Southwestern Invitational Monday at North Ranch Country Club.

The Ducks were one of just four teams to break parity in the 2023 spring opener.

Leach placed eighth individually while Solhaug placed tenth^th.

How it happened: Oregon finished the tournament with a four-under despite wet conditions that played long the front nine and then saw increasing winds on the back nine.

Solhaug set the pace with four birdies on the front nine, including back-to-back birdies on No. 7 and No. 8. He was even on the back with three birdies and three bogeys.

Leach got things rolling with birdies on the #4 and #5 before putting a hole in the par-4, 410-yard 10 from the fairway^th hole for eagle. He also fucked the par 3 17^th Hole to get three under for the round.

Owen Avrit got off to a slow start but bounced back with four birdies on the back nine, including two on his last four holes to make up for his one major blemish of the day, a double bogey in 13th place. Avrit tied 15th on points^th at 1-under 71.

The Ducks also counted a 74 Nate Sterner.

Jacob Sosa’s course record 61 helped No. 20 Texas take the Day 1 lead with 18 under 270. No. 4 Arizona State was tied for second at 275, followed by Oregon (284), Georgia (287), No. 19 San Diego State (288), and No. 14 Pepperdine and Washington at 290.

Quotable

head coach Casey Martin

“We had a solid start. A few hiccups, but not bad for the first round of competition in spring. The course and the conditions are difficult.

Remarkable: Leach’s eagle was his first of the season and third of his career in Oregon…Solhaug’s seven birdies were one of the best performances of Texas’ Keaton Vo’s round of last eight… Thomas Jenkins Jr.an NCAA Division II All-American transferring from Sonoma State to Oregon made his duck debut, shooting a 75.

Ducks on the leaderboard
First round
North Ranch Country Club (par 72, 7,017 yards)

3. Oregon – 284 (-4)
T8. Greyson Leach – 69 (-3)
T10. Gregory Solhaug – 70 (-2)
T15. Owen Avrit – 71 (-1)
T33. Nate Sterner – 74 (+2)
T40. Thomas Jenkins Jr. – 75 (+3)

Next: The Southwestern Invitational continues with round two on Tuesday. The tournament can be viewed live on Golf Channel from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

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