The N.C. State women’s golf team overcame all expectations and placed third in the ACC championship golf tournament this past weekend at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. The team scored an 890 (+38) collectively, beating No. 14 Clemson, No. 19 Wake Forest and No. 21 North Carolina. The Wolfpack was one stroke behind second place Virginia who shot an 889 (+37).
Four of the five State players finished in the top 20. Senior Brittany Marchand led the Pack, finishing the tournament tied for fifth place with a total score of 220 (+7), which is one stroke lower than her season average. Senior Ana Menendez recorded a 221 (+8) on the scorecard landing her tied for ninth place among all competitors. One stroke behind Menendez was junior Augusta James, who shot a 222 (+9), placing her in 12th place.
The Pack struggled early in the Championships, ending the first day in ninth place with a score of 308 (+24) as a team. James finished the day shooting 75 (+4), followed by Marchand who recorded a 76 (+5). Menendez ended the day with a 77 (+6) and was tied for 27th in the tournament. Junior Lindsay McGetrick and junior Vivian Tsui shot an 80 (+9) and 84 (+13) respectively.
State drastically improved their team score on the second day after shooting a 292 (+8) as a team. Marchand shot an even par, 71 (E), at the end of the day. McGetrick shot a 72 (+1) after recording four birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey. Menendez finished the day with a 74 (+3) and James showed consistency, posting another 75 (+4) on the scorecard for the tournament. Tsui rounded out the Wolfpack finishing the day with a 78 (+7). After the second round of the tournament the pack jumped from ninth place up to fifth, gaining momentum heading into the last day of the tournament.
State brought the same intensity on the third day of tournament play. The Pack was led by Menendez, who recorded a 70 (-1) after the third round, ending the tournament in ninth. James had her best round of the tournament, shooting a 71 (+1) in the third round. Marchand put together another solid outing, shooting a 72 (+2) helping solidify her spot tied for fifth among all golfers. McGetrick and Tsui rounded out the team, shooting 75 (+4) and 83 (+12) respectively.
The third place finish was the second highest by the team this season, after the team placed second in the Dr. Donnis Thompson International tournament in Hawaii. State had the highest tournament jump after coming back from ninth place to finish the tournament in third. The late burst by the team has come at the perfect time, as the Pack heads into regionals. After the third-place finish, the Pack has a good chance to re-enter the NCAA’s top 25.
James and Marchand have been the anchors of the Pack team throughout the entire season. Both players are averaging 73 strokes per round through eight tournaments. In those eight tournaments, James and Marchand have placed in the top 10 among all players two and three times respectively, and both players have been among the top 20 five times.
The Pack will make its newfound momentum into the NCAA Regional tournament on May 8. The location of the tournament will be announced April 29.
