Sambach claims medalist honors as Hoos finish third at ANNIKA Intercollegiate

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

It was not her best round of the event, but after building a six-shot lead following the opening 36 holes of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, UVA sophomore Amanda Sambach took home medalist honors after Wednesday’s final round of play.

Sambach shot 2-over 74 on Wednesday to place first in the field at 9-under 207. She was two strokes better than runners-up Bohyun Park of Texas and Lauren Walsh of Wake Forest.

It was the best tournament result of her career and ties as the third-best tournament score by a Cavalier. Sambach became the first UVA golfer to win multi-round tournament medalist honors since Anna Redding captured the Mary Fossum Invitational to open the 2018 season.

During the final round, Sambach played her opening nine holes at Royal Golf Club at even par with two birdies and two bogeys. She made bogey on 10, 11 and 13 before rebounding to post four consecutive pars and a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to complete her day.

Sambach is 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. The award and the tournament are named in honor of former LPGA champion Annika Sorenstam, who won 89 professional events and 10 major titles during her 15 years as a professional. Sorenstam was on hand to present Sambach the winner’s trophy.

Sambach’s win came against one of the top fields for a tournament this season. A total of 11 of the 12 teams competing are ranked in the preseason top-20 of the collegiate coaches poll.

Sambach’s play helped the Cavaliers to a third-place finish as UVA shot 1-under 863 for the event. Sophomore Megan Propeck, playing in her first college outing, was 19th overall at 3-over 219. She posted a final-round score of 72. Senior Celeste Valinho and junior Jennifer Cleary tied for 35th at 6-over 222 and graduate student Riley Smyth was 41st at 223.

It was UVA’s best finish at the ANNIKA in three appearances. The Cavaliers were 11th in both 2017 and 2019.

UVA is back in action next week when the Cavaliers compete at Tennessee’s Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate at Cherokee Country Club on Sept. 19 and 20.

ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Royal Golf Club
Lake Elmo, Minn.
Par 72, 6,408 yards
Final Results

Team Results
1. Wake Forest — 294-279-285-858
2. Texas — 288-291-283-862
3. Virginia — 284-283-296-863
4. South Carolina — 295-279-291-865
4. Duke — 292-284-289-865
6. Oregon — 292-289-285-866
7. Florida — 294-286-291-871
8. Arizona State — 300-285-291-876
9. Michigan — 288-288-304-880
10. Auburn — 303-290-290-883
11. Alabama — 303-293-293-892
12. Minnesota — 304-299-305-908

Individual Leaders
1. Amanda Sambach, Virginia — 65-68-74-207
2. Bohyun Park, Texas — 69-71-69-209
2. Lauren Walsh, Wake Forest — 73-66-70-209
4. Phoebe Brinker, Duke — 72-69-69-210

Virginia Results
1. Amanda Sambach   65-68-74-207
19. Megan Propeck    73-74-72-219
35. Celeste Valinho  75-71-76-222
35. Jennifer Cleary  71-72-79-222
41. Riley Smyth      77-72-74-223