Women's Golf
    No. 3 USC Opens Cougar Classic In Lead
    Trojans hold a stroke edge after first round.

    Results at Golfstat.com

    Junior Sophia Popov fired a 2-under 70 while freshman Kyung Kim turned in a 1-under 71 to lead the No. 3 USC women's golf team as it opened the 2012-13 season with the first-round lead Sunday (Sept. 9) at the College of Charleston "Cougar Classic" at the Yeamans Hall Club in Charleston, S.C.

    The Trojans combined for a 3-under 285, one better than Duke, Virginia and Florida, all tied for second at 2-under 286. Georgia is fifth at 1-under 287.

    Popov, whose four career first-place wins are one off the school record, is three off the individual lead, tied for seventh. Starting on the 10th tee, she opened with four pars before three birdies and a bogey over the final five holes of her first nine. She finished with nine pars on the front 9.

    Kim, in her debut round as a Trojan, was 2-over after three holes, but finished the final 10 holes at 3-under for her sub-par round to tie for 13th.

    Junior Rachel Morris and sophomore Doris Chen tied for 20th at par 72 while freshman Kim Santiago tied for 33rd at 1-over 33.