NINETY-SIX, S.C. — It was quite the Saturday for the High Point University women's golf team.
The Panthers did something no other team has in program history, advancing to the Big South Conference Match Play Finals and putting themselves in position for more firsts.
After downing third-seeded Gardner-Webb in the match play semis, the second-seeded Panthers clawed their way to the final hole before coming up just a stroke short of top-seeded Campbell University, 3-2, in the match play finals to finish as runner-ups.
"I can't express how proud I am of these young ladies," HPU head coach
Lyndsey Hunnell said. "They have welcomed me with open arms this season and followed me every step of the way. We had a historical year for my first year and for HPU, I'm excited for all the experience we gained this week. I can't wait to take Sarah to Regionals and grow on this for the next season!"
Site: Ninety Six, SC
Course: The Links at Stoney Point
Tournament: Big South Championships
Match Play Results - Semifinals
#2 High Point vs. #3 Gardner-Webb
Order of finish:
M1: Linnea Hofgren (GWU) defeats
Ana-Elena Kusters (HPU), 6&5 (GWU leads 1-0)
M3:
Sarah Kahn (HPU) defeats Georgia Barr (GWU), 5&4 (match tied 1-1)
M2: Neza Siftar (GWU) defeats
Danielle Suh (HPU), 3&2 (GWU leads 2-1)
M4:
Freja Ekman (HPU) defeats Katelyn Griggs (GWU), 2&1 (match tied 2-2)
M5: Ella Perne (HPU) defeats Kayla Dowell (GWU), 1UP (HPU wins 3-2)
Match Play Results - Finals
#1 Campbell defeats #2 High Point, 3-2
Order of finish:
M1: Isabella Hahne (CAM) defeats
Danielle Suh (HPU), 2&1 (CAM leads 1-0)
M2:
Sarah Kahn (HPU) defeats Sanna Lundmark (CAM), 3&1 (match tied 1-1)
M4:
Ella Perna (HPU) defeats Taylah Ellems (CAM), 3&2 (HPU leads 2-1)
M5: Patricia Garre Munoz (CAM) defeats
Vynie Chen (HPU), 4&2 (match tied 2-2)
M3: Tomita Arejola (CAM) defeats
Freja Ekman (HPU), 1UP (CAM wins 3-2)
In the semifinals,
Ella Perna was the hero as she went ahead with a hole to go versus the Runnin' Bulldogs' Kayla Dowell. The impressive freshman sunk a putt from the left side of the ninth pin to secure the Panthers' semifinal win. Big South medalist
Sarah Kahn was the first to secure a match in the semis, while freshman
Freja Ekman played her first round of the weekend and won to help advance her team to its first-ever match play finals.
Alike the semis, the match play finals came to the very last putt. Kahn and Perna each won their respective matches, leaving the fate in the hands of Ekman. The freshman fought until the very end, falling behind a stroke on the 16th hole before Tomita Arejola edged the Ekman and the Panthers on the 18th green.
As a team, the Panthers' season ends as runner-ups, but graduate senior
Sarah Kahn will continue her HPU career as an individual in the NCAA DI Regional. Her placement will be announced on highpointpanthers.com in the coming weeks.
#GoHPU
