For the third time in program history, the Lee University women’s golf team qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships. In a loaded field of ten teams ranked in the top 25, the Lady Flames shot an 880 in the third and final round to finish in fourth at the NCAA South Regional.
Lee made the national championship in 2017 coming in seventh, and then in 2022 finished stoke play in fourth before falling in the quarterfinals of match play.
Anderson University won the regional championship going eight under as a team with a final score of 856.
Lynn University came in second with a score of 875. Flagler College was third going 878, and Nova Southeastern University was the fifth and final team to advance to the national championships with a score of 892.
Supuschaya “Yui” Srichantamit finished tied for eighth with a three-round score of 218 (71-76-71). She birdied three of the last five holes to shoot a 71. Hannah Nall one over on the day and was tied for 12th with a final score of 220 (73-74-73). Banthita “Pearl” Phoncharatkun had a 221 (75-73-73) over the three rounds to finish in tied for eighteenth. Freshman Olivia Ireland shot one-under on the day to finish tied for 24th. She had a total of 223 (79-73-71). Emily Ritchie rounded out the team with a score of 232 (83-74-75) coming in tied for 49th.
Kennedy McGaha won the individual title at twelve under with a three-round total of 204 (68-68-68). Ana Maria Jimenez Rios of the University of Tampa and Josefine Winkle of Lander University were the two individuals to advance to the national championship. Rios was two under with a 214 (77-72-65) and Winkle was even par with a 216 (71-69-76).
The Lady Flames will now compete in the NCAA National Championships May 21-25, 2024 at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.
Coach Geandra Almeida’s Thoughts:
“Incredibly proud of this team. If you watched, after nine holes we were dead last. But we never got desperate. We trusted in our process and came back strong. After nine holes we were ten over and at the end we were 16 over. That tells a lot about how this group is special and fought for every shot. From one through five everyone stepped up and did their best and that’s all you can ask for.”
“I want to thank everyone who helped this week. Our staff and the Cleveland Country Club staff. With AD Maupin and tournament director Coach Rowe was great. Thanks to our staff who came and made this tournament special and supported us.”
“This is for Coach Larry Carpenter. Even when he wasn’t feeling well, he was always there supporting us.”