PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (September 23, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's golf team competed in a match play event for the first time in the program's seven-year history on Monday, advancing to the semifinal round of The Match at Marsh hosted by Jacksonville in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The Lions started the morning against Seminole State (FL) and won the first round match by a 4-1 final. UNA advanced to play host school Jacksonville in the semifinal round, but fell 4-1 in that match. Tomorrow, the Lions will battle Nova Southeastern in the third place match.
Eight teams are competing at The Match at Marsh, including seven schools from the state of Florida. UNA is the only out-of-state school in the field. Atlantic Sun Conference rivals Jacksonville and Stetson will battle in the championship. The consolation bracket includes SSC, Palm Beach Atlantic, Embry Riddle and Bethune-Cookman.
Senior Jahnavi Prakhya won both of her matches from the top slot on Monday, going 5&3 to clinch against SSC's Kailey Kleinatland on the 15th hole. Prakhya went 3-up on hole six with a par-birdie-par, then extended the lead to 4-up with a birdie-par to open the back nine. She clinched the match with a birdie on 15, finishing the round with a birdie on all three par-five holes.
In the second round against JU, Prakhya went 2&1 to clinch after 17 holes. Starting on the back-nine, JU's top golfer Casey Powell took the lead two holes in before Prakhya pulled back all square with a par on 18. The two traded the lead once again after the turn, but a birdie on hole five put Prakhya up one with four holes remaining. The Gujarat, India native finished with a par on hole eight, clinching the win one hole early.
Jacksonville won holes 2-5 to advance to the final, though Kerigan Klauber, Olivia Whittle and Elsa Steinarsdottir all battled to the final two holes before falling 2&1.
In the 4-1 win over Seminole State, the Lions had victories from the the top two and bottom two spots. Senior Hannah Dees won 5&4 with a par to clinch on the 14th hole. She took a commanding 5-up lead in the front nine, including birdies on holes four and six.
In the third slot, Klauber was all square with SSC's Leonie Krausse through 12 holes, tying things up with a par on a par-three. However, a pair of birdies gave Krausse the advantage and win on 16.
Whittle and Steinarsdottir won both of their matches over Seminole State, as each clinched on the 15th hole. Whittle was boosted by an eagle on hole five and pars or birdies on every hole on the back nine to defend her 4-up lead.
Making her UNA debut, Steinarsdottir won 7&5 by growing her 1-up lead on the eighth hole with six straight wins. The Iceland native birdied her first-ever hole with a three on a par-four, but fell behind by one after the fifth hole. She came back with bogey and par to take the lead on seven, then controlled the rest of the match. She birdied again on hole 11.
The Lions will roll into the final round against Nova Southeastern tomorrow morning with the same lineup — Prakhya, Dees, Klauber, Whittle and Steinarsdottir.
To view the bracket and scores, click here.
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