UVA Opens Play at NCAA Auburn Regional on Monday
Charlottesville, VA – The No. 17 Virginia women’s golf team competes at the NCAA Regional site at Saugahatchee Country Club in Opelika, Ala. starting Monday, May 6. The Cavaliers are the No. 5 seed in the 18-team regional that runs through May 8.
Format
Each regional site is a 54-hole event with a single-round scheduled for Monday through Wednesday. The top six schools from each of four 18-team regional sites will advance to the NCAA Championships along with the top three individuals not advancing from a team from each site. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for May 17-22 at The Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Ark.
Regional History
This year’s regional marks the 14th time Virginia has received a bid to the NCAA Championships. Virginia will be looking to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in the program’s 16-year history. Last season the Cavaliers placed 22nd at the NCAA Championships.
The Cavaliers’ top regional finish was its second-place performance last year at the Madison, Wisc., site. Beth Lillie and Morgan Gonzales led Virginia by tying for seventh place at 3-under 213. UVA was third in 2011, fourth in 2009 and has been fifth five times (2015, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2005). UVA has had two first-place finishers at NCAA Regionals. Current assistant coach Calle Nielson was the first to accomplish the feat, placing first in 2010 at the West Regional at Stanford. In 2016, Elizabeth Szokol shared first-place honors, also at the Stanford Golf Course.
The Field
The field at the site includes (in seed order) 1. Duke, 2. Vanderbilt, 3. Florida State, 4. Auburn, 5. Virginia, 6. Furman, 7. Clemson, 8. Houston, 9. Kennesaw State, 10. Alabama, 11. Tennessee, 12. California, 13. Maryland, 14. East Carolina, 15. Denver, 16. South Alabama, 17. Albany and 18. Murray State.
The ACC
Virginia is one of 10 ACC teams to receive an invitation to this year’s national championship. Also qualifying were Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, NC State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
UVA Lineup
Stroke Low Low
Golfer Events Rds. Avg. Rd. Tourney
Anna Redding (Sr.) 9 27 72.67 66 207
Morgan Gonzales (Sr.) 9 26 74.96 71 221
Beth Lillie (So.) 10 29 72.90 68 212
Katharine Patrick (Sr.) 10 29 73.72 68 215
Riley Smyth (Fr.) 5 14 75.43 72 222
The Rankings
Golfstat Golfweek
(4/30) (4/24)
Virginia 17 17
Anna Redding 46 34
Beth Lillie 61 50
Katharine Patrick 117 103
Follow
Live scoring for NCAA Regional will be available online at Golfstat.com. Follow the Cavaliers on social media at Twitter: @UVAWomensGolf & @CoachRiaScott and Instagram: UVAWomensGolf.