At Cavalier Match Play in Charlottesville, Virginia, the North Carolina women's golf team won 3-2 over N.C. State, and took losses to Louisville and Virginia Tech on Tuesday and Wednesday. Despite reaching the finals, the Tar Heels fell to Louisville, 3-2, on Wednesday's final day of competition.
What happened?
On Tuesday, the first day of play, five UNC players matched up against N.C. State in the semifinal, while five took on Virginia Tech in the quarterfinal. The Tar Heels fell to the Hokies, 3-2, by the end of day one, with first-year Crista Izuzquiza clinching her match 4&3 against Virginia Tech's Alyssa Montgomery and junior Jennifer Zhou winning her match one up against the Hokie’s Emily Mahar. Despite these efforts, though, Virginia Tech came away with a 3-2 victory.
Zhou maintained her success moving into the later part of the day, when she defeated N.C. State's Lea Klimentova three up. North Carolina first-year Nalatia Aseguinolaza also won her matchup against the Wolfpack three up. The remainder of the match play against N.C. State was suspended due to darkness and was moved to day two.
Wednesday started out strong for the Tar Heels, with sophomore Kayla Smith’s defeat over N.C. State's Isabel Amezcua 2&1 to clinch a 3-2 win for UNC over the Wolfpack. However, in the match play final against Louisville, the Tar Heels fell, 3-2.
Who stood out?
Zhou and Aseguinolaza had impressive performances in Charlottesville, both winning two of their three respective matches in the competition.
When was it decided?
While first-year Nicole Adam won her match play 6&5 and Aseguinolaza won her head-to-head two up, their efforts fell just short. UNC’s loss in the finals against Louisville was imminent as two Cardinals were both one hole up on the Tar Heels, and another three holes up, giving Louisville the head up in match points, 3-2.
