University of North Carolina Athletics
Meaghan Francella Grabs First Place At East Regionals
May 9, 2003 | Women's Golf
May 9, 2003
CLEMMONS, N.C. - UNC golfer Meaghan Francella fired a second consecutive two-under-par 69, which gives the Junior from Port Chester, New York sole possession of first place in individual scoring at the 2003 East Regional. Keeping pace with her Tar Heel teammate, UNC Junior Ashley Prange shot the lowest round in the Regional after 36 holes; a five-under-par 66. Prange's excellent performance moves her from 31st into a tie for fourth place with Duke University's Virada Nirapathpongporn and Auburn's Celeste Troche.
randi Jackson of Furman University and Kristy McPherson of South Carolina are tied for second after each scored identical first and second round totals of 68 and 71.
The University of North Carolina Women's golf team has jumped from seventh to fourth place. Duke University continues to control the number one spot in team scoring with a nine stroke advantage over Vanderbilt University. Georgia rest in third spot, three strokes behind the Commodores. Auburn remains in fifth while South Carolina, Arizona and Florida State University round out the top eight in team standings. The top eight teams will advance along with the top two individual scorers who are not members of the top eight teams.
Other Tar Heels competing in the Regional include Meghan Adams who improved with a second round score of 74, while Beth Marushak closed out the day with another 78, and Abby Spector finished with a seven-over-par 78 as well.
The 54 hole event is being contested at the Par 71, 6,116-yard, Salem Glen Country Club. To follow the action live on Friday and Saturday go to www.golfstat.com. Click on East Regionals.
TEAM STANDINGS (#36Holes)
| 1. | Duke University | 288-286-574 |
| 2. | Vanderbilt | 295-288-583 |
| 3. | Georgia | 294-290-584 |
| 4. | North Carolina | 301-287-588 |
| 5. | Auburn | 298-291-589 |
| 6. | South Carolina | 303-287-590 |
| 7. | Arizona | 303-288-591 |
| 8. | Florida State | 290-302-592 |
| 9. | Wake Forest | 307-293-600 |
| Furman | 307-293-600 | |
| 11. | Tulane | 309-293-602 |
| 12.. | Mississippi State | 306-302-608 |
| 13. | N.C. State | 303-306-609 |
| 14. | East Carolina | 300-310-610 |
| 15. | Penn State | 305-306-611 |
| 16. | UNC -Wilmington | 307-306-613 |
| Georgia State | 306-307-613 | |
| Western Carolina | 306-307-613 | |
| 19. | South Florida | 312-304-616 |
| 20. | Mississippi | 322-302-624 |
| 21. | St.. Francis College | 335-320-655 |
TOP INDIVIDUALS (#36 Holes)
| 1. | Meaghan Francella(UNC) | 69-69-138 |
| 2. | Brandy Jackson(Furman) | 68-71-139 |
| Kristy McPherson(South Carolina) | 68-71-139 | |
| 4. | Ashley Prange(UNC) | 75-66-141 |
| V. Nirapathpngporn(Duke) | 73-68-141 | |
| Celeste Troche(Auburn) | 70-71-141 | |
| 7. | Elizabeth Janangelo(Duke) | 71-72-143 |
| Katie Futcher(Penn State) | 75-68-143 | |
| Courtney Wood(Vanderbilt) | 73-70-143 |
Carolina's Individuals
| 1. | Meaghan Francella | 69-69-138 |
| T4. | Ashley Prange | 75-66-141 |
| T57. | Meghan Adams | 79-74-153 |
| T72. | Beth Marushak | 78-78-156 |
| T92. | Abby Spector | 82-78-160 |
![Images from the first round of the 2026 Gators Invitational on Friday, March 6, 2026 at Mark Bostick Golf Course at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. [Photo by Matt Pendleton Photography for North Carolina Tar Heels Athletics]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Func.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F3%2F7%2F260306-NCAAWGOLF-UNC-GatorsInvitational-0828-MattPendleton_copy.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
Players Mentioned
