Women of Troy prepare to regain No. 1 ranking in Washington


The No. 2 Women’s golf team heads to the north this week to look for its first victory of the season at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational. The team was knocked from its preseason No. 1 perch after two straight third-place finishes in its first two tournaments and is looking to regain that ranking this week at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club in Tacoma, Wash.

Leading the way for the Women of Troy is the team’s lone senior, Lizette Salas. The three-time All-American had a 21st-place finish last week at the Mason Rudolph Championship and a third-place finish at the season opening Fall Preview. Salas, as one of the most successful players in USC history and the only remaining player from the 2008 championship team, is the de facto leader of the team, but looks to the younger girls to provide help.

Junior transfer Lisa McCloskey has certainly led by example since joining the Women of Troy this season. Her first two tournaments in cardinal and gold ended with fourth-place finishes at the Fall Preview and Mason Rudolph. McCloskey, a two time All-American at Pepperdine, was named to Golf World’s “Top Ten Women’s Golf Collegiate Players to Watch” this season, as was Salas.

Also stepping into a leadership role this season is junior Inah Park. A key member of the national runner-up squad from last season, Park placed 23rd in her season debut last week at the Mason Rudolph after sitting out the Fall Preview.

Also playing for the team this week is sophomore Cyna Rodriguez, who has two top-30 finishes to begin the season, highlighted by a 26th place finish at the Mason Rudolph. Rodriguez is the third and final returner from last season’s team and is looking to improve upon her debut season.

Rounding out the roster this week is freshman Sophia Popov. Popov, a German native, joined the Women of Troy after a successful summer highlighted by a victory at the 2010 International European Ladies Amateur Championship. She tied for 67th in her USC debut at the Fall Preview and looks to improve upon that this week.

The Women of Troy are certainly looking in the right place if they hope to find that first victory of the season. USC has won this event seven times, with the most recent coming in 2007. It’s also had six players capture individual titles at the tournament. The field at the invitational, though strong, is much weaker than their first two tournaments, with only four opponents ranked in the top 25. The tournament runs through Wednesday.