GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia sophomore Amanda Sambach leads the field after the opening day of play at the ACC Championships in Greensboro, N.C. She posted rounds of 4-under 68 and 6-under 66 at Sedgefield Country Club during Thursday’s opening 36 holes of competition.
Sambach helped No. 22 UVA to a fourth-place standing after the first two rounds at 1-under 575. The Cavaliers recorded scores of even-par 288 and 1-under 287. Second-ranked Wake Forest leads the 12-team field at 15-under 561 while No. 31 Duke is second at -10, 566 and No. 24 Clemson is third at 8-under 568.
Following Friday’s final round of stroke play, the top four teams will advance to the match play portion of the tournament. UVA finished the second round 11 shots ahead fifth place No. 11 Florida State (586).
Sambach’s second round score of 6-under 66 matched the best 18-hole performance by a Cavalier at the ACC Championships. Current LPGA Tour member Lauren Coughlin shot 6-under 66, also at Sedgefield, on her way to winning the 2016 ACC Championship. The best 54-hole score by a UVA golfer at the event was Briana Mao’s 10-under 206 in 2015, also at Sedgefield. Mao tied for first that year but lost a playoff for the individual crown.
During her opening round, Sambach had birdies on holes two and five before returning to even par following a double-bogey on number six. On the back nine, she posted birdies on 10, 11, 16 and 18.
Her second round score also included a fabulous back-nine performance. After reeling off nine consecutive pars to open her second round, she made eagle on the 10th hole, and followed that up with birdies on 12 and 14. Then, she posted her second eagle on No. 15 to finish her final nine holes at 6-under 31.
Sambach finished the day at 7-under on Sedgefield’s par-five holes.
Last year, as a freshman, Samback placed third at the ACCs at 1-under 215. The tournament was held in Pawley’s Island, S.C. that year.
Celeste Valinho posted UVA’s second-best score during the first round at 1-under 143 to end the day in 12th place. Megan Propeck is 32nd at 149 (76-73) and Jennifer Cleary and Rebecca Skoler share 39th position at 7-over 151.
The ACC Championships also decide the point at stake for women’s golf in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash series between Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers will enter the final round 14 shots ahead of the Hokies. Virginia Tech ended the second round in sixth position at 13-over 589. Currently, the clash is…
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