Jesuit's Kate Lee and Tualatin's Maya Promwongsa did it in different ways but both found their way to a share of the lead after the first 18-hole round of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A girls golf tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Club course in Corvallis.
Lee, fifth at state last year, sank four birdies in the first five holes and shot 3-over the rest of the way with no more birdies on the par-71, 5,415-yard track. Promwongsa, who tied for sixth in 2023, scattered three birdies in reaching 70.
Westview's Melinee Udom also had three birdies and shot even par on both 9s to finish at 71. Mountainside's Kristine Shin shot 72 and Cleveland's Kate Ly 74. Last year, Ly tied for second and Kobayashi was fourth.
The tournament concludes Tuesday.
Lake Oswego, the 2023 state runner-up to Jesuit, scored a 316 Monday while led by Hailey Lim's 75. The Lakers hold a one-shot lead on Sunset, which saw Shravya Kumar shoot 77 and Erika Kobayashi a 78 with three birdies.
Jesuit was close behind at 319 led by Milla Patel's 76, followed by Grants Pass at 323 (Jaylee Hix 77), Mountainside 329, Nelson 353, Sheldon 360, Sprague 360, Cleveland 361, Grant 363, Tualatin 365, Sherwood 369 (Campbell O'Connell 78) and McNary 374.
5A
North Eugene's Francesca Tomp made a strong move toward her third straight individual state title.
Monday's round of 70 at Trysting Tree puts her seven strokes ahead of Wilsonville's Evie Dunn, Summit's Saylor Gillet and Thurston's Olivia Grandberry, who all shot 77. Tomp recorded four birdies, including three on the front 9 and the last on the par-4, 340-yard 18th hole.
Dunn's 77 helped Wilsonville to the best team score of the day, 23 better than runner-up Summit. Teammates Layla Sidhu and Madeline Downie shot 84 and 85, respectively. Summit is third at 356, followed by North Eugene (376), La Salle Prep (389), Silverton (396), Dallas (399), Crescent Valley (411) and Caldera (412).
Caldera's Anna Latimer scored 81 to finish fifth on the day.
In 2023, Summit was the team champion, Wilsonville second and La Salle third. Individually, Dunn was third, Grandberry and Sidhu tied for fourth and Latimer sixth.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Cassie Kennon and North Bend lead the way after the opening day of the state tournament at the par-72, 5,352-yard course at Tokatee Golf Club in McKenzie Bridge.
Kennon shot a 76 to lead the field and help the Bulldogs to a team score of 383, five better than second-place La Grande.
Valley Catholic's Madeleine Conser and Catlin Gabel's Vishaka Priyan both shot 77 and are tied for second. Priyan had two birdies, as did Marist Catholic's Esha Reddy, who shot 79. LaPine's Kylee Smith scored an 81.
Priyan and Reddy are the top returning individuals from the 2023 state tournament, having tied for fourth.
La Grande, at 388, led by Dylann Justice's 90, is trailed by defending champion Crook County and Salem Academy (both at 390), Marist Catholic (394), Marshfield (399), St. Mary's (401), Pendleton/Griswold (418), Banks (420), Valley Catholic (428), St. Helens (431) and Blanchet Catholic (457).
