Women’s Golf: Hoos come up short in ACC match play finals against Clemson

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia women’s golf team’s bid for its third ACC title came up short Sunday as Clemson out-battled the Cavaliers to in the match play finals at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. The Tigers won their first ACC women’s golf title with a 3-1-1 result.

It marked the first season UVA advanced to the match play final since the format was adopted by the ACC in 2021. UVA downed second-ranked Wake Forest in its semifinal match.

Clemson jumped out to an early lead in four of the five matches thanks to outstanding putting. The Cavaliers settled in at the turn and started to make up ground on the Tigers.

Clemson picked up the first point of the match when Melena Barrientos defeated Celeste Valinho 3&2. Barrientos won the second hole and never trailed again in the match.

Amanda Sambach, who won the ACC individual title during stroke play, picked up the Cavaliers’ first point, downing Annabelle Pancake 2&1. Sambach fell behind 2Down after just three holes but battled back to tie the match by the 10th hole. She picked up wins on holes 15 and 16 for the victory.

Chloe Holder gave Clemson its second point with a 4&3 win against Rebecca Skoler.

UVA’s Megan Propeck made a late-round charge in hopes of evening up her match on the 18th hole. With Clemson’s Isabella Rawl leading 3Up after 15 holes, Propeck won the 16th and 17th holes. On 18, Propeck’s birdie putt, that would have sent the match to extra holes, slide just left of the cup. Rawl’s win was the Tigers’ third point and clinched the title.

UVA’s Jennifer Cleary’s match with Savannah Grewal ended as a tie after 15 holes.

UVA will await its site assignment for the NCAA Regionals that take place May 8-10 at six different sites. The selections will be announced by the NCAA on April 26 at 1 p.m. on GOLF Channel.

Regional play will take place May 8-10 at six regional sites, with a total of 396 student-athletes competing. All six regional sites will have 12 teams and 6 individuals. The top five teams (30 teams total) and the low individual not on an advancing team (six individuals total) from each regional site will advance to play in the championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona taking place May 19-24.

REGIONAL SITES:
Athens, Georgia – University of Georgia Golf Course (Georgia, host)
Westfield, Indiana – The Club at Chatham Hills (Indiana, host)
Pullman, Washington – Palouse Ridge Golf Club (Washington State, host)
Raleigh, North Carolina – Lonnie Poole Golf Course (NC State, host)
San Antonio, Texas – TPC San Antonio (UTSA, host)
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – PGA National Resort Champions Course (Florida Atlantic, host)

ACC Championships
Sedgefield Country Club
Greensboro, N.C.
Par 72, 6,092 yards
Match Play Finals

NO. 3 CLEMSON def. NO. 4 VIRGINIA, 3-1-1
Amanda Sambach (UVA) def. Annabelle Pancake (CLEM), 2&1
Melena Barrientos (CLEM) def. Celeste Valinho (UVA), 3&2
Isabella Rawl (CLEM) def. Megan Propeck (UVA), 1UP
Chloe Holder (CLEM) def. Rebecca Skoler (UVA), 4&3
Jennifer Cleary (UVA) vs. Savannah Grewal (CLEM), tie