Wednesday, May 8
Auburn, Ala. (Auburn University Club)
All Day
North Carolina
vs
NCAA Auburn Regional Day Three
Women's Golf Advances To NCAA Championship
May 8, 2024 | Women's Golf
Kayla Smith, Megan Streicher and Inez Ng combined to shoot 1 over par in the third and final round Wednesday to lead the University of North Carolina to a third-place finish in the NCAA Auburn Regional, which qualifies the Tar Heels to advance to the 2024 NCAA Championship.
Auburn, Oregon, UNC, South Carolina and Tulsa finished in the top five in the 12-team field to qualify to play in the May 17-22 in the national championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
The Tar Heels advanced to the NCAA Championship for the 17th time and the first since 2017, when UNC finished ninth at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
It is the first NCAA Championship appearance for head coach Aimee Neff, who is in her third season directing the Tar Heel women's golf program.
Carolina's third-place finish is its best in a regional since finishing second in 2011.
Smith shot 1-under 71, Streicher shot even par and Ng was 1 over. Freshmen Ing Iadpluem shot 77 and Reagan Southerland had a 78.
The Tar Heels shot 300-292-293 for a total of 21-over 885.
Auburn won the regional at 10 over par, four strokes ahead of Oregon. The Tar Heels were third at 21 over and South Carolina and Tulsa tied for the final qualifying spot at 27 over.
The Tigers' Anna Davis was the medalist at 5-under 211.
Smith, a fifth-year senior from Burlington, N.C., and a two-time All-ACC honoree, will be playing in the NCAA Championship for the first time. She shot 72-72-71 to tie for fifth place at 1-under 215. The fourth-place finish is her fifth top-10 of the season and the ninth of her career.
Streicher, a sophomore from South Africa, played the back nine 2 under par, including a birdie on the final hole. The 2024 All-ACC honoree placed seventh in the individual standings at 1-over 217.
This is the first time two Tar Heels placed in the top 10 in an NCAA regional since 2004, when Meaghan Francella and Ashley Prange went one-two in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Auburn, Oregon, UNC, South Carolina and Tulsa finished in the top five in the 12-team field to qualify to play in the May 17-22 in the national championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
The Tar Heels advanced to the NCAA Championship for the 17th time and the first since 2017, when UNC finished ninth at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
It is the first NCAA Championship appearance for head coach Aimee Neff, who is in her third season directing the Tar Heel women's golf program.
Carolina's third-place finish is its best in a regional since finishing second in 2011.
Smith shot 1-under 71, Streicher shot even par and Ng was 1 over. Freshmen Ing Iadpluem shot 77 and Reagan Southerland had a 78.
The Tar Heels shot 300-292-293 for a total of 21-over 885.
Auburn won the regional at 10 over par, four strokes ahead of Oregon. The Tar Heels were third at 21 over and South Carolina and Tulsa tied for the final qualifying spot at 27 over.
The Tigers' Anna Davis was the medalist at 5-under 211.
Smith, a fifth-year senior from Burlington, N.C., and a two-time All-ACC honoree, will be playing in the NCAA Championship for the first time. She shot 72-72-71 to tie for fifth place at 1-under 215. The fourth-place finish is her fifth top-10 of the season and the ninth of her career.
Streicher, a sophomore from South Africa, played the back nine 2 under par, including a birdie on the final hole. The 2024 All-ACC honoree placed seventh in the individual standings at 1-over 217.
This is the first time two Tar Heels placed in the top 10 in an NCAA regional since 2004, when Meaghan Francella and Ashley Prange went one-two in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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