‘Hoos fall to Maryland on final day of Cavalier Match Play

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The No. 12 Virginia women’s golf team lost its final event during Wednesday’s play at the Cavalier Match Play tournament at Birdwood Golf course, falling to No. 21 Maryland 4-1 in the contest for third place. The Cavaliers finished fourth in the eight-team tournament. No. 2 Duke downed No. 15 Virginia Tech 3-2 to win the team title.

Louisville handed North Carolina a 3-2 loss for fifth place and NC State beat Richmond 4-1 for seventh place.

“I think the team was disappointed in the result, but at the same time they were excited to finally host a tournament at Birdwood, compete on their home course and play in front of some of their friends and classmates,” said UVA coach Ria Scott. “We had three matches come down to the 18th or extra holes today, so I felt it was more competitive than what the scoreboard displayed. This is a great learning experience for us heading into post-season play. We know what we have to work on and we’ll address that leading up to the ACC Championships.”

UVA senior Beth Lillie (Fullerton, Calif.) picked up the Cavaliers’ lone victory vs. Maryland. She defeated the Terps’ Charlotte Lafourcade 4&3. Maryland’s wins were Xiaolin Tian 4&3 vs. Celeste Valinho, Laura Van Respaille 20 holes vs. Virginia Bossi, Maria Vittoria Corbi 2 Up vs. Jennifer Cleary and Virunpat Olankitkunchai 2 Up vs. Riley Smyth.

Wake Forest’s Mimi Rhodes defeated South Carolina’s Lois Kaye Go 3&2 in the individual bracket. UVA’s Sly Sload won her individual match vs. South Carolina’s Mathilde Claisse in 22 holes and Claire Hodges fell to Wake Forest’s Vanessa Knecht 4&3.

“I can’t say enough about everyone that helped put on this event,” Scott said. “Birdwood really showed up and there was some highly-competitive golf played out there over the past two days. The number of matches that went to extra holes was incredible. I think the combination of the field, great weather and a fantastic golf course had everyone’s competitive nature on high.”

Virginia returns to action April 15-18 when it competes at the ACC Championships at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.

Team Finals

(1st place) – Duke defeated Virginia Tech 3-2

(3rd place) – Maryland defeated Virginia 4-1

(5th place) – Louisville defeated North Carolina 3-2

(7th place) – NC State defeated Richmond 4-1

Individual Finals

(1st place) – Mimi Rhodes (WFU) vs. Lois Kaye Go (SC) – Rhodes 3&2

(3rd place) – Lauren Walsh (WFU) vs. Phoebe Brinker (Duke) – Walsh 22 holes

(5th place) – Vanessa Knecht (WFU) vs. Claire Hodges (UVA) – Knecht 4&3

(7th place) – Sky Sload (UVA) vs. Mathilde Claisse (SC) – Sload 22 holes