UNC women's golf headed to NCAA Championships for first time since 2012

The North Carolina women's golf team placed fourth in the NCAA Stanford Regional over the weekend. With the finish, the Tar Heels qualified for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.

What happened?

North Carolina entered the Regional as the No. 12 seed, and played like it during the first round on Thursday. After hanging around in the middle of the pack for the first 17 holes of the day, each of the five UNC golfers took turns struggling on the par-4 10th hole. 

The Tar Heels shot a combined 8-over-par on the 10th hole on Thursday, dropping the team down to 15th place with an 18-over-par 302 for the round. 

Only the top-six teams would get a bid to the NCAA Championships, so after a rough Thursday, the Tar Heels needed to get out of whatever funk they were in fast. 

Coach Jan Mann called the players together after Thursday's round to try and instill some faith into her team, and also had the five golfers meet on their own to discuss what they needed to do to get back in the tournament. 

Whatever was said in the player-only meeting Thursday night, it sure seemed to work. On Friday, the Tar Heels shot 5-over-par for the round, and jumped from 15th place all the way to 6th. 

Mann gathered the team together again on Friday night, but this time with a different request. UNC was in position to move on to the NCAA Championships, but she wanted the team to keep attacking. 

"We weren't sure how they were going to react on the third day. I mean that's a very nerve-wracking position to be put into," Mann said. "What I told them was, 'We're not going out there to protect the sixth spot. We're going to try to advance." 

On Saturday, the Tar Heels didn't play to protect, and as a result had their best round of the tournament. 

North Carolina shot a 3-over-par 287 to move up two spots and cement their place in the NCAA Championships.

Who stood out?

In what could have been her last tournament as a Tar Heel, senior Elizabeth Mallett put together a masterful three rounds at the Stanford Golf Course. 

After posting a respectable score of 4-over-par on Thursday, Mallett carded two consecutive rounds of 1-under-par to finish the tournament at 2-over-par, good enough to tie for ninth place individually. 

The senior from Sutton Coldfield, England shined on par-5 holes, shooting 4-under-par for the tournament. That mark was the fifth-best in the tournament field. 

Mallett was also one of only eight competitors to card an eagle during the Regional. She picked it up on the par-5 seventh hole in Saturday's round. She was the only golfer to eagle the seventh hole on the weekend. 

When was it decided?

The players-only meeting that took place after Thursday's round proved to be the turning point for the Tar Heels on the weekend. 

Mann noticed the change midway through Friday's round. 

"Leah (Buchmann), the assistant coach, and I both commented that they were just playing with a great deal of confidence," she said. "They were playing loose, but smart, and we felt like if they continued doing that (they'd have a chance)."

After shooting a 18-over-par 302 on the first day of the Regional, North Carolina shot a combined 8-over-par over the final two days. Three Tar Heels — Mallett, Leslie Cloots and Bryana Nguyen — carded four rounds under par during the last two days of the Regional.

Why does it matter?

With its finish in the regional, North Carolina advances to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2012 — where the Tar Heels finished in 10th place. 

No member of UNC's roster was in college when the team last traveled to the Championships. 

For Mallett — North Carolina's lone senior — the tournament will be her last as a Tar Heel. Both she and her team hope that she can put together another solid performance when the Tar Heels make the trip to Oregon.

Where do they play next?

The Tar Heels will compete in the NCAA Championships at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore. from May 20-25.

@jbo_vernon

sports@dailytarheel.com