University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Bryan National Collegiate Day 2
Carolina Finishes Tied For Third In Bryan National Collegiate
April 7, 2018 | Women's Golf
BROWNS SUMMIT, N.C. - On a rainy and cold afternoon, the University of North Carolina women's golf team finished tied for third at 33-over-par 897 in the Bryan National Collegiate Saturday at the Bryan Park Champions Course. The team let a one-stroke lead slip away in the final round, but the finish is the team's highest at the tournament since finishing third outright in 2011 and the Tar Heels finished ahead of seven other teams in the Golfstat Top 50, including No. 9 South Carolina.
The Tar Heels also finish the regular season with five top-five finishes, the most since the 2011-12 season.
"We are disappointed that we didn't come in first, but it was a great experience for us to once again be in the lead," head coach Jan Mann said. "The more times that happens, the more times we will win."
Junior Kelly Whaley (Farmington, Conn.) led the way for Carolina for the second-straight tournament - picking up her second top-five finish after winning the Briar's Creek Invitational just two weeks ago. Whaley shot a 77 Saturday, but finished tied for fifth at 4-over-par 220, and her second round 68 matched the best round of any competitor in the competition (the only other was a 68 by teammate Ava Bergner also in the second round). She finished ahead of 15 other golfers in the Golfstat Top 100.
Senior Bryana Nguyen (Columbia, Md.) finished with a team-best 76 in the third round, and ultimately finished tied for 21st at 10-over-par 225. Sophomore Mariana Ocano shot a 78 Saturday and finished the tournament tied for 45th at 15-over-par 231.
Bergner, a freshman from Ketsch, Germany, completed the final-round scoring effort for the Tar Heels by shooting a 79 to finish the tournament at 14-over-par 230 and tied for 40th. Sophomore Brynn Walker (St. David's, Pa.) finished tied for 60th at 20-over-par 236.
"Everybody contributed in this tournament," Mann said. "You never know what conditions are going to be in regionals and at the championships, so as brutal as these conditions were, it just prepares us moving forward.
Competing as individuals, senior Cheni Xu tied for 63rd at 21-over par and junior Clementina Rodriguez finished 93rd at 38-over.
UP NEXT: With the regular season now complete, the Tar Heels turn their sights to the postseason. Carolina will head to the 30th annual ACC Women's Golf Championship from April 21-23 at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center's East Course in Greensboro, N.C. The championships were originally scheduled for April 20-22 at the Sedgefield Country Club, but will be moving just down the road. The Tar Heels will be competing for their third ACC title and first since 2011.
"I think we still have some work to do, but we are certainly seeing good progress with the team," Mann said. "I think they know that they can play with anybody."
TAR HEEL SCORES
T5 - Kelly Whaley 75-68-77–220 (+4)
T21 - Bryana Nguyen 75-75-76—226 (+10)
T40 - Ava Bergner 83-68-79—230 (+14)
T45 - Mariana Ocano 78-75-78—231 (+15)
T60 - Brynn Walker 73-79-84—236 (+20)
Team Totals: 301-286-310—897, +33 (T3 of 17 teams)
(competing as individuals)
T63 - Cheni Xu 76-77-84—237 (+21)
93 - Clementina Rodriguez 81-82-91—254 (+38)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Wake Forest 300-289-299—888 (+24)
2. Furman 297-291-305—893 (+29)
T3. Auburn 295-294-308—897 (+33)
T3. North Carolina 301-286-310—897 (+33)
5. South Carolina 296-298-304—898 (+34)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest) 72-72-71—215 (-1)
2. Naomi Ko (N.C. State) 73-74-70—217 (+1)
T3. Sydney Legacy (Clemson) 73-73-73—219 (+3)
T3. Lois Kaye Go (South Carolina) 71-73-75—219 (+3)
T5. Kelly Whaley (North Carolina) 75-68-77—220 (+4)
T5. Kayley Marschke (Auburn) 72-73-75—220 (+4)
Players Mentioned
