USC Breaks Scoring Record at 8,000-Foot Red Sky Classic

Southern California’s women’s golf team set the single-round scoring record at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic on Monday, shooting 22-under 266 in the opening round at Red Sky Golf Club’s Fazio Course in Wolcott, Colorado.

Why does elevation matter at Red Sky?

The Fazio Course is the highest-elevation venue on the college golf calendar. Its clubhouse sits at 7,665 feet, the 16th tee climbs just above 8,000 feet, and the sixth green sits just above 7,200 feet — nearly 1,000 feet of change across one course. Miami coach Janice Olivencia said her team, which plays its home season 10 feet above sea level, works to simplify the altitude math for players rather than overload them with variables. USC coach Justin Silverstein said his players add roughly 5% of distance on shorter clubs and up to 15% on longer ones, a plan the Trojans rehearsed last year by hitting shots at 7,700 feet in an indoor facility.

How did USC break its own record?

USC’s 266 beat the mark the Trojans set in the final round of last year’s title-winning tournament by one shot, and gives the team an 11-shot lead over Miami after 18 holes. Junior Jasmine Koo, last year’s co-medalist, signed for 7-under 65, matched by freshman Kaili Xiao in her collegiate debut. Xiao opened with a bogey before reeling off eight birdies, six of them on the back nine, for what the program believes is both the best freshman debut round and the lowest round in USC history. Kylie Chong, Koo’s co-medalist from a year ago, shot 6-under 66, and sophomore Sarah Hammett carded a bogey-free 70 as the team’s final counting score.

One golf course and nearly 1,000 feet of elevation change between the far ends of the course.

Colorado senior Maya McVey posted her own milestone round, carding 18 pars and zero bogeys for an even-par 72. “I honestly can’t believe it,” McVey said afterward.