4 UNCW golfers honored as All-America scholars; Kayla Thompson seeks match play title

ADVANCE, NC – (CGA RELEASE) – Pendleton Bogache of Myrtle Beach, S.C. survived a three-for-one playoff after stroke-play qualifying to earn a date with two-time defending champion Mallory Hetzel of Waynesville, N.C. Bogache gave the defending champion all she could handle. Bogache erased a two-down deficit by winning the 11th and 12th holes. Hetzel, the Western Carolina University Women’s Golf Coach, responded by winning No. 13 to take a one-up lead. The players halved the remaining holes giving Hetzel the one-up victory and allowing her to continue her title defense. “It was a good match, she is a good player and it really could have gone either way,” Hetzel said.

Kayla Thompson of Whiteville, N.C. went up against medalist Sarah Bae of Pinehurst, N.C. in the closest match of the Round of 16. “I knew I had to play well to compete,” Thompson said. “The front nine was a birdie fest and that was a lot of fun.” Neither player led by more than two holes, and after halving Nos. 16-18 the match went an extra hole. Thompson knocked in a 20 foot birdie putt on No. 1, the 19th hole, to knock out the medalist and advance.

Carley Cox of China Grove, N.C. found herself in a three-down to Emily Stinson of Charlotte, N.C. after seven holes. Cox used a hot putter to reverse her fortunes, squaring the match on the 10th hole. “It seemed like she could not miss out there,” Stinson said. Cox completed the comeback with a birdie on No. 17 to win 3 and 2.

The rest of the Round of 16 matches in the championship flight also made it to at least the 17th hole except for Maddisen Cox. The Easley, S.C native built a five-hole lead at the turn and ultimately advanced to the quarterfinals after a 6 and 4 victory.

Hetzel played clean golf in her quarterfinal match allowing her to cruise to a 7 and 5 victory over Hailey Cleary of Lexington, S.C. “I made three birdies and no bogeys, that is tough for anybody to beat.” After her Round of 16 match went the distance, Hetzel was grateful to get out of the heat early. “If you can get a match like that it is great, especially knowing you might have to play two more tomorrow.” The two time defending champion is now two matches away from a three-peat, but knocking on history’s doorstep is not going to faze her, “My name is alread on the trophy two times, that is a good enough accomplishment. So it is more just fun trying to go win it three times because nobody has done that before.”

Cecily Overbey of High Point N.C. got out to an early lead in her quarterfinal match against Carley Cox. Cox erased the two-hole deficit on the eigth hole. Overbey never trailed in the match and won the 16th hole to take a two-up lead with two holes remaining. Cox was unable to manufacture another comeback and Overbey moved on to the semifinals after a 3 and 1 victory. Overbey will face Hetzel in the semifinals.

Kayla Thompson looked to capatilze on the momentum and confidence she gained in the Round of 16. “That first match gave me a little extra confidence even though I knew I could play,” Thompson said. Ashley Thompson of Clyde, N.C. kept the match square until the turn. Kayla Thompson proceeded to seize control of the match, winning the next four holes en route to a 3 and 2 victory. “I kept my driver in play all day and that was the difference today. I feel good about it going into tomorrow,” the victorious Kayla Thompson said

The final quarterfinal featuring Lea Venable of Simpsonville, N.C. and Maddisen Cox was also square at the halfway point. Cox was able to win No. 10 and 11 to take a two-up lead. “Both of us hit the ball well which made for a competitive match against a familiar face,” Cox said after the match. After two victories Thursday, the James Madison University rising junior moves within two matches of her first CGA championship. Next up for Cox will be Thompson in the semifinals.

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CORAL SPRINGS, Fl (UNCW) -– Led by seniors Annette Lyche and Meghan Theiss, a group of four UNCW women’s golf student-athletes was recognized as All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.

Sophomores Kayla Thompson and Alaina Yeatts joined Lyche and Theiss on the list of 828 student-athletes, who earned the award after compiling at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

“I am very proud of our players for their commitment in the classroom,” Coach Cindy Ho said. “It takes a tremendous amount of discipline and effort to handle all of the academic responsibilities and missed classes due to our travel schedule, so I am so happy for my players in receiving this honor.”

Lyche, who earned All-America Scholar notice for the second straight year, finished her career with the second-best scoring average in school history with a 75.95 mark. A three-time First-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, the Baerum, Norway, native was the Seahawks’ top golfer with a 75.71 average during her senior campaign with a pair of top-five finishes.

A Second-Team All-CAA selection, Theiss returned from an injury to compete in all eight tournaments this season. Theiss, who also received the Kim Moore Spirit Award from the WGCA, was second on the Seahawks with a 75.75 scoring average and finished in a tie for sixth place at the CAA Championship. The LaGrange, Ky., product shot a season-best 3-over par at The Landfall Tradition and Clemson Invitational.

Thompson posted a pair of top-10 efforts while finishing the season with a 76.42 scoring average. After earning a share of third place to lead the Seahawks to the William & Mary Invitational team championship to begin the season, the Clarkton, N.C., native finished in seventh place at the LSU Invitational after carding a 9-over par score. In two years, Thompson has recorded a 77.83 scoring average.

Yeatts competed in all eight tournaments for the Seahawks as a sophomore and finished the season with a 78.96 scoring average. The Durham, N.C., product posted a 6-over par score in the season-opening tournament at William & Mary, including a career-low 69 in the second round.