University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, October 12
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Delayed until noon
North Carolina
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Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational Day 1
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Women’s Golf Prepared to Host Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational
October 10, 2018 | Women's Golf
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina women's golf team is set to once again host the 43rd Annual Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational at their home par-72 6,379-yard Finley Golf Course this weekend from Oct. 12-14 in Chapel Hill.
"We feel like it is one of the premiere collegiate events," head coach Jan Mann said. "With Ruth's Chris and Mike and Deane O'Donnell hosting it, everybody looks forward to the event. It is great to be hosting."
The Tar Heels will mix up the lineup for the first time this year. The starting five will be Kelly Whaley, Jennifer Zhou, Mariana Ocano, Nicole Lu and Brynn Walker. Ava Bergner, Clementina Rodriguez and Roshnee Sharma will compete as individuals this weekend.
The tournament will feature an 18-team field with six teams in the Golfweek Top 25. Clemson, No. 10 Duke, Louisville, NC State, No. 7 Virginia and No. 11 Wake Forest will join the Tar Heels from the ACC. No. 9 Arkansas, South Carolina and No. 2 Vanderbilt will represent the SEC. Michigan, No. 25 Michigan State and Ohio State will compete out of the Big 10. Charlotte, Furman, Rollins, Tulane and UNC-Wilmington round out the field.
The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at noon on Friday. The originally scheduled tee time of 9 a.m. has been pushed back to allow for the course to dry out and be prepared following the rains from Hurricane Michael. Saturday will begin as scheduled with individuals teeing off at 8:51 a.m. and teams teeing off holes No. 1 and No. 10 at 9:09 a.m. Sunday will once again be a shotgun start, this time scheduled for 9:15 a.m.
The Tar Heels finished fifth in last year's edition of the home event. Ava Bergner shot 10-under-par for the tournament, including tying the school record with a 6-under 66 in the final round to finish tied for third overall. Brynn Walker shot 2-under and Kelly Whaley was 1-over to help Carolina to their 8-under team score. Duke edged Alabama by one stroke finishing at 31-under to win the tournament.
Mann is looking forward to hosting, but is making sure to keep her team focused on the goal.
"One of the most important things is for us to treat the Tar Heel Invitational like any other tournament," Mann said. "There is always a lot going on and we have to be careful that we don't get sidetracked. We are excited to have the families in town and everybody supporting us, but at the same time we need to focus on the tournament."
Hurricane Relief Drive
On Friday and Saturday of the tournament, UNC will be collecting donations to assist with Hurricane Florence relief efforts. The Carolina Center for Public Service has requested the following items:
Monetary donations will go to the UNC-Chapel Hill Disaster Relief Fund to support Carolina's response to affected areas.
43rd Annual Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
COURSE INFORMATION
UNC Finley Golf Course – Chapel Hill, N.C. – par 72, 6,379-yard
LIVE SCORING
www.Golfstat.com
TEE TIMES
Friday, Oct. 12 – First Round – 8:51 a.m. ET individuals off #10 // 9:09 a.m. ET teams off #1 and #10
Saturday, Oct. 13 – Second Round – 8:51 a.m. ET individuals off #10 // 9:09 a.m. ET teams off #1 and #10
Sunday, Oct. 14 – Final Round – 9:15 a.m. ET shotgun start
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"We feel like it is one of the premiere collegiate events," head coach Jan Mann said. "With Ruth's Chris and Mike and Deane O'Donnell hosting it, everybody looks forward to the event. It is great to be hosting."
The Tar Heels will mix up the lineup for the first time this year. The starting five will be Kelly Whaley, Jennifer Zhou, Mariana Ocano, Nicole Lu and Brynn Walker. Ava Bergner, Clementina Rodriguez and Roshnee Sharma will compete as individuals this weekend.
The tournament will feature an 18-team field with six teams in the Golfweek Top 25. Clemson, No. 10 Duke, Louisville, NC State, No. 7 Virginia and No. 11 Wake Forest will join the Tar Heels from the ACC. No. 9 Arkansas, South Carolina and No. 2 Vanderbilt will represent the SEC. Michigan, No. 25 Michigan State and Ohio State will compete out of the Big 10. Charlotte, Furman, Rollins, Tulane and UNC-Wilmington round out the field.
The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at noon on Friday. The originally scheduled tee time of 9 a.m. has been pushed back to allow for the course to dry out and be prepared following the rains from Hurricane Michael. Saturday will begin as scheduled with individuals teeing off at 8:51 a.m. and teams teeing off holes No. 1 and No. 10 at 9:09 a.m. Sunday will once again be a shotgun start, this time scheduled for 9:15 a.m.
The Tar Heels finished fifth in last year's edition of the home event. Ava Bergner shot 10-under-par for the tournament, including tying the school record with a 6-under 66 in the final round to finish tied for third overall. Brynn Walker shot 2-under and Kelly Whaley was 1-over to help Carolina to their 8-under team score. Duke edged Alabama by one stroke finishing at 31-under to win the tournament.
Mann is looking forward to hosting, but is making sure to keep her team focused on the goal.
"One of the most important things is for us to treat the Tar Heel Invitational like any other tournament," Mann said. "There is always a lot going on and we have to be careful that we don't get sidetracked. We are excited to have the families in town and everybody supporting us, but at the same time we need to focus on the tournament."
Hurricane Relief Drive
On Friday and Saturday of the tournament, UNC will be collecting donations to assist with Hurricane Florence relief efforts. The Carolina Center for Public Service has requested the following items:
- Mosquito repellent
- Cleaning supplies (mops, brooms, dust pans, face masks, sponges, buckets, spray bottles, wipes)
- Canned vegetables
- Dry cereal, cereal bars
- Paper goods (napkins, plates, cups, knives, spoons)
- Feminine products
- Adult diapers
- Quart-sized and gallon-sized food storage bags
Monetary donations will go to the UNC-Chapel Hill Disaster Relief Fund to support Carolina's response to affected areas.
43rd Annual Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
COURSE INFORMATION
UNC Finley Golf Course – Chapel Hill, N.C. – par 72, 6,379-yard
LIVE SCORING
www.Golfstat.com
TEE TIMES
Friday, Oct. 12 – First Round – 8:51 a.m. ET individuals off #10 // 9:09 a.m. ET teams off #1 and #10
Saturday, Oct. 13 – Second Round – 8:51 a.m. ET individuals off #10 // 9:09 a.m. ET teams off #1 and #10
Sunday, Oct. 14 – Final Round – 9:15 a.m. ET shotgun start
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Thursday, June 04
Tuesday, June 02
Monday, June 01
Monday, June 01