NAPA, Calif. – Freshman Mika Liu fired a 4-under-par 68 Sunday to help spark two-time defending champion Stanford claim fifth place after the first round of the Silverado Showdown at Silverado Resort & Spa.
Liu collected six birdies on the North Course to post her best score as a Cardinal versus par. Earlier this season, she shot a 3-under 68 at the Stanford Intercollegiate at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
No. 4 Stanford combined for a 6-over 294 in the count four-out-of-five player format, four strokes behind pacesetter USC.
The Trojans' Jennifer Chang earned the individual lead with a 6-under 66. Liu is tied for second.
Andrea Lee of Stanford is tied for 19th after shooting 74, while Albane Valenzuela and Ziyi Wang added 76s and are knotted at 42nd. Shannon Aubert (84) is tied for 85th.
Competing as an individual, Kelsey Zeng shot 77 and is tied for 51st.
Round two of 54-hole, 17-team tournament is Monday, followed by the final round on Tuesday. The Cardinal tees off Monday from 7:45 a.m. to 8:21 a.m. PT off the first tee with host Colorado and San Jose State.
Live scoring is available at GoStanford.com.