Kayla Smith Earns Career-Best Finish at Ruth's Chris

Sunday, October 17

Chapel Hill (UNC Finley GC)

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North Carolina

Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational Day Three

October 17, 2021 | Women's Golf

Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational Final Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

Tar Heels T-9 at UNC Finley

By: Steve Kirschner

Rachel Kuehn made a birdie on the 17^th hole Sunday to earn medalist honors by a stroke and lead Wake Forest to a 10-shot win at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational at UNC Finley Golf Course.

Kuehn shot even-par 72 today and finished the 54-hole event at 11-under 205 (70-63-72), which tied the third-lowest total in tournament history. The junior from Asheville set the women's course record, Wake Forest's 18-hole record and the tournament single-round record on Saturday with a bogey-free, 9-under-par 63.

She eagled the third and fifth holes today, but was 1 over on her round through 16 before making a birdie 4 on the 17^th hole. That birdie gave her the one-stroke victory over Duke's Erica Shepherd, who shot 70 today and 10-under 206 for the tournament.

The Demon Deacons had four starters finish in the top 21 in the individual standings and shot 283-277-287 for a 17-under 847 total. Clemson, which pulled within a stroke of the Deacons midway through the day, was second at 7-under 857. Virginia Tech gave the ACC a sweep of the top three at 5 under, Alabama was fourth at 2 under and Duke and Kentucky shared fifth place at 1 under par.

Tournament host North Carolina shot 289-288-293 to tie Vanderbilt for ninth at 6-over 870.

Tar Heel junior Kayla Smith earned her first career top-10 finish with a 5-under-par 211 to tie for eighth place. The Burlington, N.C., native was one of only six players in the field to shoot under par in all three rounds (69-71-71).

Carolina's Krista Junkkari tied for 26^th (even-par 216), Crista Izuzquiza tied for 52^nd (6-over 222), Stephany Kim was 60^th (7-over 223) and Natalia Aseguinolaza tied for 84^th (14-over 230).

The Tar Heels conclude the fall portion of their schedule October 29-31 at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C.