UVA Opens Play at NCAA Columbus Regional on Monday
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The No. 11 Virginia women’s golf team competes at the NCAA Regional site at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. starting Monday, May 10. The Cavaliers are the No. 3 seed in the 18-team regional that runs through May 12.
UVA will be paired with Duke and Arizona State during the first round. Those teams will tee off starting at 10 a.m. from the first tee (note: original 8 a.m. tee time moved to allow for course maintenance).
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 set for May 21-26 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Regional History
This year’s regional marks the 15th time Virginia has received a bid to the NCAA Championships. Virginia will be looking to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 12th time in the program’s 18-year history. UVA placed 14th at the 2019 NCAA Championships. Last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic.
The Cavaliers’ top regional finish was its second-place performance in 2018 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 2019 and 2009 and has been fifth five times (2015, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2005). UVA has had two first-place finishers at NCAA Regionals. 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 Columbus Regional site includes (in seed order) 1. Duke, 2. Arizona State, 3. Virginia, 4. Kent State, 5. Georgia, 6. Vanderbilt, 7. Michigan, 8. Clemson, 9. Oklahoma, 10. Kentucky, 11. Illinois, 12. New Mexico, 13. Nebraska, 14. Washington, 15. Coastal Carolina, 16. Campbell, 17. Evansville, 18. Youngstown State.
The ACC
Virginia is one of eight ACC teams to receive an invitation to this year’s national championship. Also qualifying were Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
UVA Lineup
Stroke Low Low
Golfer Events Rds. Avg. Rd. Tourney
Beth Lillie (Sr.) 7 19 73.00 68 214
Riley Smyth (S0.) 7 19 73.00 67 210
Jennifer Cleary (Fr.) 7 19 73.63 69 216
Celeste Valinho (So.) 7 19 74.05 69 214
Virginia Bossi (So.) 7 19 74.42 70 214
The Rankings
Golfstat Golfweek
(5/4) (4/27)
Virginia 11 14
Riley Smyth 62 97
Beth Lillie 73 72
Jennifer Cleary 104 132
Celeste Valinho 126 199
Virginia Bossi 198 185
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.