LAKE ELMO, Minn. – One of the 25 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2023 ANNIKA Award presented to the nation’s top collegiate female golfer, UVA sophomore Amanda Sambach put on quite a performance during the opening round of the trophy’s namesake’s tournament. Sambach shot 7-under 65 to tie the Cavalier single-round scoring record at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo, Minn., to finish as the first-round leader.
The tournament, and player of the year trophy, are both named for former LPGA champion Annika Sorenstam, who won 89 professional events and 10 major titles during her 15 years as a professional.
Sambach finished her round with a four-shot lead over Texas’ Bohyun Park. She helped UVA grab the opening-round lead with a team score of -4, 284. Texas and Michigan are tied for second place at even par 288.
Sambach produced a round of seven birdies and no bogeys at Royal Golf Club. Last season as a freshman, she earned honorable mention All-America honors after placing third at the ACC Championships, fifth at a NCAA Regional site and 31st at the National Championships. Her best round was 3-under 69 that she shot four times during the season. Sambach led UVA with a 72.85 stroke average last year, the lowest single-season average by a first-year in program history.
Sambach’s score tied the program scoring mark set by current LPGA touring professional Lauren Coughlin in 2015 at the UCF Challenge. Coughlin also shot 7-under par.
Junior Jennifer Cleary also shot under par for the Cavaliers. She produced a round of -1, 71 to tie for fifth place after the opening 18 holes. Sophomore Megan Propeck, playing in her first collegiate tournament, shot 1-over 73 and senior Celeste Valinho rounded out the UVA team scoring with a 3-over 75. Propeck was in 15th place while Valinho was 34th. Graduate student Riley Smyth finished the first round in 45th place with a 77.
The 12-team field for the ANNIKA Intercollegiate features 11 teams ranked in the top-20 of the preseason coaches poll. The second round gets underway at 8 a.m. CT on Tuesday. Live scoring is online at Golfstat.com.
ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Royal Golf Club
Lake Elmo, Minn.
Par 72, 6,408 yards
First Round Results
Team Results
1. Virginia 284
2. Michigan 288
2. Texas 288
4. Duke 292
4. Oregon 292
6. Wake Forest 294
6. Florida 294
8. South Carolina 295
9. Arizona State 300
10. Alabama 303
10. Auburn 303
12. Minnesota 304
Individual Leaders
1. Amanda Sambach, Virginia 65
2. Bohyun Park, Texas 69
Virginia Results
1. Amanda Sambach 65
5. Jennifer Cleary 71
15. Megan Propeck 73
34. Celeste Valinho 75
45. Riley Smyth 77