University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational Day 1
Carolina To Host 42nd Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
October 11, 2017 | Women's Golf
CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina will host the 42nd annual Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational Friday-Sunday Oct. 13-15 at UNC Finley Golf Course. The outstanding field features the top-two ranked teams in the country by Golfweek in Arkansas and Alabama as well as six other teams ranked in the top-30 squads in America.
Fourteen of the 18 squads scheduled to compete for the Tar Heel Invitational team title participated in NCAA postseason play last year. In addition, Alabama, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, South Carolina and Vanderbilt advanced to the 2017 NCAA Women's National Championship.
Individual talent will also be on display at UNC Finley with 10 of the top-20 ranked players by Golfweek taking the course: No. 1 Maria Fassi of Arkansas, No. 2 Laura Stephenson of Alabama, No. 6 Alana Uriell of Arkansas, No. 9 Dylan Kim of Arkansas, No. 10 Kristen Gillman of Alabama, No. 12 Leona Maguire of Duke, No. 13 Sarah Burnham of Michigan State, No. 14 Jaclyn Lee of Ohio State, No. 18 Emilia Migliaccio of Wake Forest and No. 19 Jennifer Kupcho of Wake Forest.
Kupcho returns to Chapel Hill after claiming the individual title and leading her Demon Deacons to the team title in 2016.
"The Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational is one of the best events in the country," head coach Jan Mann said. "We're extremely fortunate that we have a golf course that is a championship golf course and that we have the staff that supports this tournament, but having Mike and Deane O'Donnell and Ruth's Chris supporting the event is phenomenal. What they do for us, for the tournament and for the players that are playing in the event is just unbelievable, and it makes the tournament very special."
CAROLINA STARTING FIVE
Carolina's starting five will be freshman Ava Bergner, senior Bryana Nguyen, junior Kelly Whaley, and sophomores Brynn Walker and Mariana Ocano. Senior Cheni Xu, junior Clementina Rodriguez and sophomore Roshnee Sharma will compete as individuals.
THE TOURNAMENT VENUE
The Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational returns to UNC Finley Golf Course, one of the premier college facilities in the nation. The par-72 6379-yard course designed by internationally-renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio is traditionally recognized as one of the most beautiful courses in the southeast. It is located in Chapel Hill, N.C., just two miles off the historic campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
The Tar Heel Invitational is a 54-hole tournament with single rounds scheduled Friday (first tee times at 8:51 a.m.), Saturday (first tee times at 8:51 a.m.) and Sunday (shotgun start at 9:15 a.m.).
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Live results from the Tar Heel Invitational will be available at Golfstat.com.
HEAD COACH JAN MANN - COMMENTS
On what this team has the potential to accomplish
"It's our home event, and we want to win it. Having said that, it's an extremely strong field and we're going to have to play extremely well. Anyone is going to have to play extremely well to take home the trophy. Can we do it? Absolutely."
On facing top-level competition for the second-straight tournament
"We did not finish where we wanted to at Vanderbilt, but we struck the ball well. The putts didn't drop, and if the putts dropped we would have certainly I think been well up the leaderboard. They know this golf course. They should own this golf course. They should feel very confident on this golf course. I feel that they are excited to be competing, and that they are going to fight and focus to make it happen."
On this being the first tournament without former head coach Dot Gunnels since her passing
"I've been coaching for nine years now, and every event Dot has been here. So, she will definitely be missed, and I know that the teams competing are going to miss seeing her, but she'll definitely be here in spirit."
Players Mentioned
