WESTFIELD, IN – The 25th-ranked Virginia women’s golf team finished the opening round of NCAA Regional play tied for sixth place at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind. The Cavaliers shot 1-under 287 and are tied with 17th-ranked Vanderbilt. UVA entered the event as the No. 5 seed.
Tulsa grabbed the opening round lead at 9-under 279 while top-seeded Mississippi State is in second place at 280 followed by Michigan (283), Iowa State (286) and Oregon State (286).
The regional is one of six three-round competition sites where the top five teams advance to the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., May 19-24.
Virginia was led by ACC Individual Champion Amanda Sambach. She shot 3-under 69 and finished the day tied for fifth place. Sambach’s round included a pair of eagles on the par-5 fifth and 17th holes. She also tallied two birdies and three bogeys.
UVA’s Celeste Valinho, who had four birdies during her round, posted a score of even-par 72 while Jennifer Cleary, Megan Propeck and Rebecca each finished Monday’s play at 1-over 73.
Tuesday’s second round gets underway at 8 a.m. UVA will be paired with Iowa State and Oregon State. Those teams get underway at 8 a.m. from the first tee.
Virginia is playing in the 17th NCAA Regional in the 20-year history of the program. The Cavaliers have advanced to the NCAA Championships 12 times, including last season when Virginia placed 15th.
NCAA Westfield Regional
The Club at Chatham Hills
Westfield, Ind.
Par 72, 6,300 yards
First-Round Results
Team Results
1. Tulsa 279
2. Mississippi State 280
3. Michigan 283
4. Iowa State 286
4. Oregon State 286
6. Virginia 287
6. Vanderbilt 287
8. Tennessee 288
9. Xavier 289
10. Oregon 294
11. Morehead State 296
12. Lipscomb 299
Individual Leaders
1. Julia Lopez-Ramirez, Mississippi State 67
2. Hannah Levi, Mississippi State 68
2. Madde Sund, Oregon State 68
2. Lovisa Gunnar, Tulsa 68
Virginia Results|
5. Amanda Sambach 69
24. Celeste Valinho 72
30. Jennifer Cleary 73
30. Megan Propeck 73
30. Rebecca Skoler 73
..