24th May 2023

WAKE FOREST, whose team included Mimi Rhodes (ENG) and Lauren Walsh (IRL), won the 2023 NCAA Division I National Championship at Greyhawk G.C. in Arizona.

This was Wake’s first women’s national title in the program’s history and the 10th overall for the school.

The victory capped a record breaking year for the Demon Deacons women’s golf team who have now won six titles.

Wake Forest (Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images / NCAA)

WAKE FOREST (seeded 3rd) beat SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (USC) (seeded 5th) 3-1-0 in the 18 hole Team Final.

Emilia Migliaccio (4&2), Rachel Kuehn (6&4) and Lauren Walsh (3&2) secured the all important wins with Mimi Rhodes also 2Up with two holes to play, and with a birdie putt on the 17th green, before her game was halted so that the celebrations could begin.

It was a fairly dominant performance from the Wake team who took control of the three critical matches early on and then saw them out impressively. Migliaccio is a 6th year graduate student and Kuehn and Walsh are seniors so experience was certainly on their side.

Ireland’s Lauren Walsh clinched the Championship with a solid par on the 16th hole. She said “My goal today was to put up a point for the team. It’s so special.”

Catherine Park, who finished runner-up in the stroke play qualifying, collected the Trojan’s only point defeating Carolina Lopez-Chacarra by 3&1 in game 2.

Kim Lewellen, Wake’s coach since 2018-19, said “We are absolutely thrilled to bring a trophy back to Wake Forest University and the community there in Winston-Salem (in North Carolina). It’s easy when you have a team like this. They get on so well. They practice so hard and they’re veterans. They’ve been in this type of position before and they pulled it off. It was unbelievable to watch how they kept their grit and kept their foot on the pedal and got it done. These young ladies will have memories of a lifetime”

Match Play Final Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

CLICK HERE FOR THE GOLFSTAT RESULTS – MATCH PLAY – TEAM 

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23rd May 2023

Match Play Semi-Finals

WAKE FOREST (seeded 3rd) enjoyed a comprehensive 3-0-0 victory against TEXAS A&M (seeded 7th) in the opening Semi-Final. Mimi Rhodes (ENG) won her second game of the day, this time beating Bianca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio by 1 Hole whilst Lauren Walsh (IRL) was tied with Adela Cernousek when play was stopped.

Match Play Semi-Final Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA surprised STANFORD 3-1-0 in the other Semi-Final. Rose Zhang, who it was announced had won the Annika Award before teeing off, had a poor front nine before falling 2&1 to unheralded Brianna Navarrosa. When she finally needed her teammates to step up for her they weren’t able to do so.

Match Play Quarter Finals

TEXAS A&M (seeded 7th) beat local rivals TEXAS (seeded 2nd) by 3-1-0 in a competitive first Quarter Final match.

Once a team gets the three wins they require to progress any outstanding matches are normally ended early.

Championship favourites STANFORD (seeded 1st) beat their Californian neighbours PEPPERDINE (seeded 8th) by 3-1-0. Rose Zhang, who was 5 under par for the 13 holes she played, won her game by 6&5.

The standout tie from a GB&I perspective was the clash between our two best represented teams WAKE FOREST (seeded 3rd) and FLORIDA STATE (seeded 6th). Wake Forest came out on top 3-1-0 with Rachel Kuehn’s extra time win against Amelia Williamson (ENG) perhaps proving pivotal. Lottie Woad (ENG), who didn’t appear to have her best game but battled all the way to the end, lost game 3 to Carolina Lopez-Chacarra by 2&1. Mimi Rhodes (ENG), who is enjoying an excellent post season, critically came through a slow start, she was 2 Down after 3 holes, to win her game against Alice Hodge on the final hole, the 9th. The all GB&I game between Lauren Walsh (IRL) and Charlotte Heath (ENG) was tied after 18 holes with neither player able to gain more than a 1 hole advantage before it was halted.

Match Play Quarter-Final Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

The Championship came to an end for Hannah Darling (SCO) and her SOUTH CAROLINA team (seeded 4th) in the final Quarter Final after they were defeated 3-1-0 by SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (seeded 5th). Hannah was 2 Down after 15 holes against Amari Avery when their game was called. Avery is one of USA’s best players and someone Hannah would have known well from the college circuit and last year’s Curtis Cup match.

Match Play Quarter-Final Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

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22nd May 2023

Stroke Play Round 4

Team

STANFORD earned medalist honours with a 1,133 (-19) total after four stroke play rounds at Greyhawk G.C.

WAKE FOREST, with Lauren Walsh and Mimi Rhodes in their line up, finished 3rd on -13, Hannah Darling’s SOUTH CAROLINA were 4th on +1 and FLORIDA STATE, with Charlotte Heath, Amelia Williamson and Lottie Woad in their team, 6th on +3. All three therefore qualified for the match play stage which will determine the 2023 Team champions.

Aine Donegan’s LSU missed out following this eight team final cut.

Stroke Play Team Results (Graphic: GolfStat)

Individual

Rose ZHANG (USA / Stanford), still only a sophomore, became the first player in competition history to win the NCAA Division 1 Women’s National Championship on multiple occasions and in successive years.

Rose Zhang (Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images / NCAA)

Her bogey free four under par 68 in the final round took her to a 278 (-10) total, one shot better than her nearest rivals, Lucia LOPEZ-ORTEGA (Spain / San Jose State) and Catherine PARK (USA / Southern California).

It was Zhang’s 8th win this season and 12th in 20 career starts for Stanford. It is therefore hard to dispute Stanford’s claim that she is “the greatest collegiate golfer ever”.

Her NCAA average score this season was also a record breaking 68.81, nearly a shot better than her 69.68, the previous record, set in 2021/22.

Stroke Play Individual Results (Graphic: GolfStat)

Here are the final Individual results / finishing positions for all of the GB&I players: –

Lauren WALSH (IRL / Wake Forest) 67-67-79-69 (-6) Tied 7th (up 5)
Charlotte HEATH (ENG / Florida State) 71-71-69-71 (-6) Tied 7th (down 1)
Hannah DARLING (SCO / South Carolina) 71-69-76-70 (-2) Tied 18th (up 7)
Amelia WILLIAMSON (ENG / Florida State) 74-68-75-72 (+1) Tied 31st (down 1)
Lottie WOAD (ENG / Florida State) 70-74-72-73 (+1) Tied 31st (down 6)
Mimi RHODES (ENG / Wake Forest) 70-70-76-73 (+1) Tied 31st (down 6)

Missed 72 Holes Stroke Play Cut
Aine DONEGAN (IRL / Arizona State) 78-79-81-71 (+21) 78th (up 1)

Missed 54 Holes Stroke Play Cut
Rosie BELSHAM (ENG / Baylor) 74-74-76 (+8) Tied 85th (down 7)
Sara BYRNE (IRL / Miami) 74-74-78 (+10) Tied 100th (down 23)
Caitlin WHITEHEAD (ENG / NC State) DNP-76-82 (+14)
Ellen HUME (ENG / Ole Miss) 78-DNP-DNP

CLICK HERE FOR THE GOLFSTAT RESULTS – STROKE PLAY – TEAM and INDIVIDUAL

ME.

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21st May 2023

Stroke Play Round 3

Team

After their disappointing opening day STANFORD, the No. 1 ranked women’s team, are clearly back on track. They now lead the Stroke Play Qualifying at the National Championships by seven shots on -13.

WAKE FOREST, whose team contains Lauren Walsh and Mimi Rhodes, fell back into tied 2nd after a poor third round, a position they share with TEXAS on -6.

Charlotte Heath, Amelia Williamson and Lottie Woad’s FLORIDA STATE, who enjoyed the joint best round 3 score (+1), are 5th on -1 and Hannah Darling’s SOUTH CAROLINA 6th on Even par.

Aine Donegan’s LSU are 13th on -6. While Donegan has struggled at Greyhaw both she and her team will have the opportunity to play another round tomorrow.

Following the 54 holes cut, which fell at +17, we lost Rosie Belsham’s BAYLOR (+19) who fell out of the all-important top 15 after a poor team score on Day 3 and Caitlin Whitehead’s NORTH CAROLINA STATE (+53).

Stroke Play Round 3 Team Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

Individual

After 54 holes freshman Catherine PARK (USA / Southern California) 71-64-71 (-10) leads the Individual standings.

Here are the Round 3 Individual scores / positions for all of the GB&I players: –

Charlotte HEATH (ENG / Florida State) 71-71-69 (-5) Tied 6th (up 18)
Lauren WALSH (IRL / Wake Forest) 67-67-79 (-3) Tied 12th (down 11)
Lottie WOAD (ENG / Florida State) 70-74-72 (Ev) Tied 25th (up 13)
Hannah DARLING (SCO / South Carolina) 71-69-76 (Ev) Tied 25th (down 16)
Mimi RHODES (ENG / Wake Forest) 70-70-76 (Ev) Tied 25th (down 16)
Amelia WILLIAMSON (ENG / Florida State) 74-68-75 (+1) Tied 30th (down 6)
Aine DONEGAN (IRL / Arizona State) 78-79-81 (+22) Tied 143rd (down 3)

Lauren did well to maintain her composure in Round 3; setting out with the Individual lead she played her final 14 holes in even par having bogeyed the 3rd and then taken an 11 (+6) on the 4th hole.

Missed 54 Holes Stroke Play Cut
Rosie BELSHAM (ENG / Baylor) 74-74-76 (+8) Tied 85th (down 7)
Sara BYRNE (IRL / Miami) 74-74-78 (+10) Tied 100th (down 23)
Caitlin WHITEHEAD (ENG / NC State) DNP-76-82 (+14)
Ellen HUME (ENG / Ole Miss) 78-DNP-DNP

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20th May 2023

Stroke Play Round 2

Team

WAKE FOREST, with Lauren WALSH (IRL) and Mimi RHODES (ENG) again to the fore, continue to lead the National Championships with a 559 (-17) 36 holes total.

Favourites STANFORD produced a record breaking single day -15 score to move up five places into 2nd place with Hannah Darling’s SOUTH CAROLINA (-14) remaining 3rd.

There will be a 54 holes cut with only the top 15 teams progressing to the final stroke play round.

Stroke Play Round 2 Team Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

Individual

After 36 holes Lauren WALSH (IRL / Wake Forest) 67-67 (-10) leads the Individual standings.

Here are the Round 2 Individual scores / positions for all of the GB&I players: –

Lauren WALSH (IRL / Wake Forest) 67-67 (-10) 1st (up 1)
Hannah DARLING (SCO / South Carolina) 71-69 (-4) Tied 9th (up 12)
Mimi RHODES (ENG / Wake Forest) 70-70 (-4) Tied 9th (up 1)
Amelia WILLIAMSON (ENG / Florida State) 74-68 (-2) Tied 24th (up 42)
Charlotte HEATH (ENG / Florida State) 71-71 (-2) Tied 24th (down 3)
Lottie WOAD (ENG / Florida State) 70-74 (+2) Tied 38th (down 28)
Rosie BELSHAM (ENG / Baylor) 74-74 (+4) Tied 77th (down 11)
Sara BYRNE (IRL / Miami) 74-74 (+4) Tied 77th (down 11)
Aine DONEGAN (IRL / Arizona State) 78-79 (+13) Tied 140th (down 13)

Ellen HUME (ENG / Ole Miss) 78-DNP
Caitlin WHITEHEAD (ENG / NC State) DNP-76

ME.

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19th May 2023

Stroke Play Round 1

Team

WAKE FOREST, with Lauren WALSH (IRL) and Mimi RHODES (ENG) in their line up, made a great start to the National Championships with a 279 (-9) opening round.

OKLAHOMA STATE (-8) are 2nd and GEORGIA & SOUTH CAROLINA (-2) Tied 3rd.

The initial aim for all of the teams will be to make the top 15 after 54 holes when a cut will take place before the final stroke play round.

Stroke Play Round 1 Team Scores (Graphic: GolfStat)

Individual

Madison HINSON-TOLCHARD (AUS / Oklahoma State) 66 (-6) leads the Individual standings at the the end of Day 1.

Here are the Round 1 Individual scores / positions for all of the GB&I players: –

Lauren WALSH (IRL / Wake Forest) 67 (-5) 2nd
Lottie WOAD (ENG / Florida State) 70 (-2) Tied 10th
Mimi RHODES (ENG / Wake Forest) 70 (-2) Tied 10th
Charlotte HEATH (ENG / Florida State) 71 (-1) Tied 21st
Hannah DARLING (SCO / South Carolina) 71 (-1) Tied 21st
Amelia WILLIAMSON (ENG / Florida State) 74 (+2) Tied 66th
Rosie BELSHAM (ENG / Baylor) 74 (+2) Tied 66th
Sara BYRNE (IRL / Miami) 74 (+2) Tied 66th
Aine DONEGAN (IRL / Arizona State) 78 (+6) Tied 127th
Ellen HUME (ENG / Ole Miss) 78 (+6) Tied 127th

ME.

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16th May 2023

The 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship starts on Friday 19th May at Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Greyhawk also staged the NCAA National Championships in 2021 and 2022. The women’s course is 6,383 yards long and plays to a demanding par of 72.

30 5-woman teams and 6 individuals not on those teams qualified to play through six Regional events played on 8th-10th May. To learn more about these Regionals please read my earlier article – NCAA Division I Women’s Regionals – 2023 Preview & Results

At the National Championship 54 holes of stroke play will be played on 19th-21st May. A cut will then take place which will see the top 15 teams and nine individuals not on those teams play a final 18 holes on 22nd May. Team scores in the stroke play stage are based on a best four from five players cumulative total. After 72 holes an Individual champion is crowned with the leading 8 teams progressing to a match play stage. Seeded match play will then take place on 23rd-24th May to determine the Team national champions.

Here is a list of the 30 competing teams and 6 individuals, along with their current Golfweek / Sagarin national ranking and earlier Regional site results in brackets.

There are 11 players from Great Britain & Ireland competing this year who are shown in blue below.

TEAMS

Arizona 27 (Raleigh North Carolina, 1st)

Augusta 76 (Athens Georgia, 5th)

Baylor 11 (Pullman Washington, 4th) – ROSIE BELSHAM (ENG) #2

Clemson 28 (Pullman Washington, 2nd)

Duke 26 (Palm Beach Gardens Florida, 2nd)

Florida State 9 (Raleigh North Carolina, 5th) – CHARLOTTE HEATH (ENG) #1, AMELIA WILLIAMSON (ENG) #2, LOTTIE WOAD (ENG) #3

Georgia 24 (Athens, Georgia, 1st)

Louisiana State University (LSU) 4 (Palm Beach Gardens Florida, 5th) – AINE DONEGAN (IRL) #4

Michigan State 39 (Palm Beach Gardens Florida, 1st)

Mississippi State 6 (Westfield, Indiana, 1st)

New Mexico 40 (San Antonio Texas, 5th)

North Carolina (N.C.) State 48 (Raleigh North Carolina, 2nd) – CAITLIN WHITEHEAD* (ENG) #6

*Caitlin was subbed out on the morning of the first round having been scheduled to lead NC State out. She returned for the second round.

Northwestern 10 (Palm Beach Gardens Florida, T3)

Oklahoma State 21 (San Antonio Texas, T3)

Ole Miss 19 (Athens Georgia, 4th) – ELLEN HUME~ (ENG) #5

~Ellen played in the first round but after a 78 was subbed out for Ole Miss on Day 2.

Oregon State 49 (Westfield, Indiana, 2nd)

Pepperdine 20 (San Antonio Texas, T1)

San Jose State 14 (Athens Georgia, 3rd)

South Carolina 3 (Athens Georgia, 2nd) – HANNAH DARLING (SCO) #1

Southern Methodist University (SMU) 15 (San Antonio Texas, T1)

Stanford 2 (Pullman Washington, 1st)

Texas 13 (Palm Beach Gardens Florida, T3)

Texas Agricultural & Mechanical (A&M) 5 (San Antonio Texas, T3)

Texas Christian University (TCU) 39 (Raleigh North Carolina, 4th)

Texas Tech 32 (Pullman Washington, 5th)

Tulsa 33 (Westfield, Indiana, 5th)

Southern California (USC) 8 (Pullman Washington, 3rd)

Vanderbilt 16 (Westfield, Indiana, 3rd)

Virginia 22 (Westfield, Indiana, 4th)

Wake Forest 1 (Raleigh North Carolina, 3rd) – MIMI RHODES (ENG) #5, LAUREN WALSH (IRL) #2

INDIVIDUALS

SARA BYRNE (IRL) – Miami (Palm Beach Gardens Florida, 3rd)

Camryn Carreon – UTSA (San Antonio Texas, 1st)

Tiffany Le – UC Riverside (Pullman Washington, 3rd)

Isabella McCauley – Minnesota (Westfield, Indiana, 6th)

Leon Takagi – Kent State (Athens Georgia, T5)

Dorota Zalewska – Chattanooga (Raleigh North Carolina, 1st)

2022 Results

Stanford University beat University of Oregon 3-2 at Greyhawk Golf Club in Arizona to win the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s National title.

It was the second time in their history that Stanford had lifted the National Championship trophy; their previous win coming in 2015.

Stanford Team and Coach Anne Walker (Photo: GoStanford.com)

This outstanding team consisted of Sadie ENGELMANN, Rachel HECK, Aline KRAUTER, Brooke SEAY and Rose ZHANG.

Stanford (+9) also beat Oregon (+12) in the stroke play stage of the competition with Texas A&M (+14) finishing 3rd.

Stanford, Oregon, Texas A&M, UCLA, Auburn, Florida State, San Jose State and Georgia were the eight teams to advance to the match play stage in 2022.

With rounds of 68, 70, 69 and 75 (-6) Rose ZHANG of Stanford University won the NCAA Division I Women’s Individual Championship. She finished 3 shots ahead of Natasha Andrea OON who was representing San Jose State with Jennie PARK (Texas A&M) and Ingrid LINDBLAD (LSU) both two shots further back.

Rose Zhang (Photo: Darren Reese / Tennessee Golf Association)

Charlotte HEATH (Florida State) was GB&I’s highest finisher, tied 21st on +6. Anna FOSTER (AUBURN) +9 was tied 40th.

Jessica BAILEY (LSU), Lianna BAILEY (Oklahoma State), Rosie BELSHAM (Baylor), Hannah DARLING (South Carolina), Mimi RHODES (Wake Forest), Ffion TYNAN (Arkansas) and Lauren WALSH (Wake Forest) all struggled to make much of an impression in the Championship.

Click this link to view the – GOLFSTAT 2022 MATCH PLAY RESULTS – TEAM

Click these links to view the – GOLFSTAT 2022 STROKE PLAY RESULTS – TEAM and INDIVIDUAL

ME.

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