Women’s Golf: Hoos in 4th place after first day of NCAA Regional play

Photo: UVA Athletics

The 24th-ranked Virginia women’s golf team finished the opening round of play at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional in fourth place. The Cavaliers shot 1-over 289 led by graduate student Celeste Valinho’s round of 3-under 69.

The regional is one of six three-round competition sites where the top five teams advance to the NCAA Championships at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. on May 17-22.

Duke grabbed the first-round lead by shooting 6-under 282. Stanford is second at 284 and Arizona State is one shot ahead of UVA in third place. Long Beach State is in the critical fifth-place position at 4-over 292.

Valinho’s round was her best this season and her lowest 18-hole score since she shot 4-under 68 at last year’s NCAA Regional in Westfield, Ind. Valinho ended the day in fourth place, two strokes behind tournament leader Anne Chen of Duke.

Amanda Sambach posted the Cavaliers’ second-best score, shooting even par 72 at Tumble Creek Club. She finished Monday’s play in 10th place. Jaclyn LaHa and Megan Propeck both turned in scores of 2-over 74 to round out UVA’s scoring players. They are tied for 22nd place. Rebecca Skoler shot 78 and is in 51st place.

Tuesday’s second round gets underway at 9 a.m. PT. UVA will be paired with Long Beach State and Kansas. Those teams get underway at 9 a.m. from the 10th tee.

Virginia is playing in the 18th NCAA Regional in the 21-year history of the program. The Cavaliers have advanced to the NCAA Championships 13 times, including last season.

NCAA Cle Elum Regional
Tumble Creek Club
Cle Elum, Wash.
Par 72, 6,306 yards
First-Round Results

Team Results
1. Duke — 282
2. Stanford — 284
3. Arizona State — 288
4. Virginia — 289
5. Long Beach State — 292
6. Kansas — 294
7. San Jose State — 298
8. Sacramento State — 300
9. Washington — 302
10. Alabama — 303
11. Virginia Tech — 308
12. Seattle — 310

Individual Leaders
1. Anne Chen, Duke — 67
2. Paula Martin Sampedro, Stanford — 68
2. Lily Hirst, Kansas — 68
4. Celeste Valinho, Virginia — 69

Virginia Results
4. Celeste Valinho — 69
10. Amanda Sambach — 72
22. Jaclyn LaHa — 74
22. Megan Propeck — 74
51. Rebecca Skoler — 78