ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i women's golf team battled through the first day of the GameAbove Golf Invitational Monday at the Rolling Hills Country Club.
 
Despite the challenging layout of the 6,564-yard course, the Rainbow Wahine demonstrated notable resilience by improving their scoring as the day progressed. The team posted a second-round 312, shaving two strokes off their opening round to sit in 11^th place with a cumulative total of 626 (+50) heading into the final 18 holes.
 
Southern California utilized its home-course advantage to seize a commanding lead, ending the day as the only team under par with a staggering 13-under 563. The Trojans' dominance is highlighted by Kylie Chong, who surged into the individual lead at 7-under par 137 after firing a field-best 66 in the second round.
 
Behind USC in the team standings are Texas A&M (577) and co-host Eastern Michigan (585), while Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio (Texas A&M) and Celine Chen (SMU) remain in the hunt, tied for third individually at 3-under 141.
 
Leading the way for the Hawai'i contingent is Emiko Sverduk, who remains steady in a tie for 37^th place after rounds of 76 and 77 for a 153 (+9) total, keeping her within striking distance of a top-25 finish. Her ability to navigate the demanding green complexes at Rolling Hills has provided a solid anchor for the Rainbow Wahine lineup as they look to climb the leaderboard.
 
The middle of the UH scorecard features a tight battle between Maline Kraus and Sofina Firouzi, who are currently deadlocked in a tie for 49^th place at 157. Providing a spark for the Rainbow Wahine in the second round was Jasmine Wong, who delivered a massive bounce-back performance. After a difficult opening 84, Wong found her rhythm to card a 6-over 78, marking a six-stroke improvement that moved her into 57^th place. Rounding out the squad is Chloe Ku in 58^th place at 165.
 
The final round is scheduled for Tuesday with tee times starting at 8:00 a.m. PT.

11. Hawai'i – 314-312=626 (+50)
T-37. Emiko Sverduk – 76-77=153 (+9)
T-49. Maline Kraus – 78-79=157 (+13)
T-49. Sofina Firouzi – 79-78=157 (+13)
57. Jasmine Wong – 84-78=162 (+18)
58. Chloe Ku – 81-84=165 (+21)