PULLMAN, Wash. - Vicky Tsai rode a bogey-free round to a career-best-tying 4-under 68 in the first round of the WSU Cougar Cup Monday, to highlight a steady day for Idaho women's golf at Palouse Ridge Golf Course. The Vandals are in ninth place at 12-over through 36 holes, after firing consecutive scores of 6-over 294 on the opening day of the tournament. The final round tees off Tuesday, with a shotgun start at 7:45 a.m.

Junior Valeria Patino embodied the team's steady play, shooting a 1-under 71 in each of the first two rounds to lead the Vandals. Patino is tied for 12th at 2-under, four strokes out of first place. She carded five birdies on the day, doing so each time through on the par-four 15th.

Tsai recorded an eagle and two birdies in her bogey-free first round to sit in first after 18 holes. Her 68 is tied for the best round of the tournament so far. She shot a 3-over 75 in the second round to finish the day at 1-under and in a tie for 15th. Tsai is one stroke behind Patino and five shots off the leader's pace.

Eddie Hsu continued her strong play to start the season. Hsu is 5-over through 36 holes, thanks to a second-round 1-over 73 - the lowest single-round score to par of her career. She is coming off a career-best showing last week, shooting 11-over at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational.

Six of the eight teams ahead of the Vandals hail from the Pac-12, including tournament-leaders Oregon State. Idaho leads a tight chase pack, where only four shots separate the five teams from ninth to 13th. The Vandals are a stroke up on BYU, two ahead of New Mexico and Pepperdine, and four clear of Gonzaga.

Team Results
9.        Idaho                        588 (12-over; 294-294)

Individual Results
T-12.    Valeria Patino           142 (2-under; 71-71)
T-15.    Vicky Tsai                 143 (1-under; 68-75)
T-49.    Eddie Hsu                149 (5-over; 76-73)
T-72.    Danika Palm            154 (10-over; 79-75)
T-84.    Laura Gerner           158 (14-over; 81-77)