UNCP’s Golf Team after winning the Conference Carolinas Championship. Submitted Image/UNCP Athletics
By Zachary C. Young, Editor in Chief
UNCP won its first Conference Carolinas’ Golf Championship, finishing first out of 11 teams Redshirt junior Georgia Page finished in first place individually and sophomore Toni Blackwell finishing second. The tournament was held April 3-5 at Cateechee Golf Club in Hartwell, Ga.
Page carded 77 in the first round, 75 in the second round and 76 in the final round, bringing her tournament total to 228, finishing 15 over par. Blackwell shot a 75, 81 and 74, respectively. Blackwell would record a total of 228, finishing 17 over par.
This was Page’s second individual tournament win of the season.
All five Braves finished in the top ten, redshirt junior Amanda Hamrin finished seventh with a total of 237, and redshirt junior Samantha DeBusk and sophomore Elizabeth Ritchie tied for eighth shooting 239.
As a team, the Braves carded 314 in round one, 312 in round two and 297 in round three. With a three-day total of 923, the Braves finished the tournament 71 over par, 36 strokes ahead of Mount Olive who finished in second place.
This was the Braves’ second first place overall finish this season.
Their first initial place came in the previous tournament; Conference Carolinas Preview on March 15.
The Braves’ 2022 campaign was filled with conference honors such as Page being named Conference Player of the Year and earning 1st Team All-Conference honors.
DeBusk and Blackwell both received Second Team All-Conference honors, and Hamrin received Third Team All-Conference honors. Coach Hannah Luckett was named Conference Carolinas’ Coach of the Year.
Page also received Conference Golfer of the Week honors four times this season. Page is also the first UNCP golfer in nine seasons to earn conference golfer of the year honors.
The NCAA South Regional golf tournament will be held May 2 through May 4.