For Virginia women's golf coach Jan Mann and the six seniors on the roster, this weekend's tournament represents not only the greatest golfing challenge of the season, but also the beginning of the end of their careers. The Cavaliers, currently ranked No. 20 by Golfweek, will head to Charlotte, N.C. this weekend for the ACC Championship, which will be the last such competition for the inaugural class of Virginia's women's golf program.
Virginia finished seventh at the ACC Championship in 2004, the first year of the program. The Cavaliers tied for third in 2005, and earned second place last year. This year's tournament marks the fourth and final chance for Mann, who is retiring at the end of the year, to lead the Cavaliers to their first championship.
The Cavaliers might be playing somewhat shorthanded, however, depending on the health of sophomore Jennie Arseneault, who is currently recovering from an injury. Arseneault is ranked No. 35 in the individual rankings.
"Jennie Arseneault has missed the last tournament, and the last day of the [previous] tournament due to a back injury," Mann said. "I think a great deal of our success hinges on how well she is going to be able to perform. She's been experiencing muscle spasms, and it's not something that can injure her if she plays, but it can certainly be painful. Whether she's going to be able to play through that pain or not, we'll just have to see."
Without Arseneault, Virginia finished 10th at the Bryan National Collegiate in Browns Summit, N.C. last weekend, in the final regular season tournament of the year. Senior Leah Wigger finished eighth individually, capping a stellar season that has earned her the ranking of the No. 14 collegiate golfer in the country by Golfweek.
The injury hurt the Cavaliers, but Wigger still said the team played well.
"I think we did alright," Wigger said. "I think the second day hurt us a little bit. We're usually pretty good in playing in bad weather but we let some shots slip away around the green and on the green. I think we can keep that momentum of playing well."
The Cavaliers will need this momentum, as their competition this weekend will be at least as fierce as in previous competitions this season.
Besides Virginia, three other ACC teams are ranked in the Golfweek Top 25, including No. 2 Duke, No. 18 North Carolina and No. 19 Wake Forest. The ACC is also home to some of the best individual golfers, as Duke sophomores Amanda Blumenherst and Jennie Lee are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 10, respectively. Florida State sophomore Caroline Westrup is No. 3 in the rankings.
The Cavaliers will have their hands full in their quest to bring home the title.
"Duke is always the team to beat," Mann said. "They're a very strong team. North Carolina has been playing very well of late. I don't think Florida State or N.C. State are too far behind, so it's always an interesting weekend."
As the team has been improving throughout the season, Wigger is optimistic about the Cavaliers' chances of bringing home the ACC title this weekend.
"I think we've been getting better every tournament, and I think we'll definitely finish in the top three," Wigger said. "Our goal is to beat Duke, and we definitely have the potential to beat Duke."
The next postseason tournament on the schedule is the NCAA regional tournament May 10 to 12. If the Cavaliers qualify, they will then head to the NCAA Championship, to be held May 22 to 25.
Read More
Volleyball holds off Boston College in tight five-set win
By Lauren Halak | 6 hours agoSenior outside hitter Elayna Duprey led the team throughout the match with 22 points and 18 kills.
Virginia annihilated 41-14 in a must-win contest versus North Carolina
By Peter Kriebel | YesterdayJust about everything that could have gone wrong for Virginia football went wrong.
No. 24 women’s soccer not to be denied in late win over Clemson
By Sam Chun | YesterdayThe Cavaliers topped Clemson 1-0 in front of a packed out Klöckner Stadium.
