GREENSBORO, N.C. — The High Point University women's golf team shot 13-under-par for the lowest 54-hole score in program history en route to winning the UNCG Collegiate for the third straight year on Tuesday afternoon at Forest Oaks Golf Club.
Ella Perna paced the Panthers to their second fall tournament victory with her 5-under-par 211 standout performance. As a team, HPU shot an outstanding 13-under-par 851 to cap the fall season strong with seven Panthers finishing in the top-11 of 55 players.
HPU's 15-under-par second round shattered the previous lowest round by six strokes, which was last set in 2021 with a 9-under-par round at the River Landing Classic, while the 13-under-par 54-hole score bests the Panthers' 6-under-par score at the same tournament from a year ago.
Head Coach Lyndsey Hunnell: "It's a great feeling to finish the fall semester with a win close to home surrounding by all of our friends and family! The team has been excited to play this tournament; they love this course when we have qualifying or match play events out here. After the first round, I had a feeling that they were going to get after it the second round. I believe we have a very strong team physically, so I knew they had a lot more gas in the tank. They played the first round well, but they were learning from their mistakes and taking notes of where they needed to play their shots to go low, and boy did they go low! It was a lot of fun to be a part of that and sit back and watch them light it up. As a coach, I knew they were all capable of the numbers they were shooting, but to have them all do it at the same time was incredible! I'm so proud of this team and it's honor to be their coach."
Site: Greensboro, N.C
Course: Forest Oaks Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 72/6029
HPU Top Finisher: Ella Perna (2) — 70, 66, 75 (211) -5
HPU Team Finish: 1 of 9 teams — 284, 273, 294 (851) -13
Panther Placement:
2 Ella Perna -5 (70,66,75)
T5 Ambre Matlega E (72,71,73)
T5 Julia McLaughlin E (68,75,73)
T8 Anais Arafi +1 (74,69,74)
T8 Anna Howerton +1 (76,67,74)
T8 IND Savannah Cherry +1 (74,68,75)
T11 IND Sofia Benavides-Herberth +2 (71,72,75)
T28 IND Aubri Braecklein +14 (74,74,82)
T36 IND Ana-Elena Kusters +18 (79,76,79)
Ella Perna had an impressive tournament, showcasing her skills with a stellar 6-under-par 66 in round two, making six birdies for a new collegiate low score. After a solid 70 in round one, she entered the final round in first place. Although she shot a 75 in round three, she earned her best finish of the fall with second place.
Ambre Matlega made her way into the starting lineup and had a strong start in round one with four birdies as she carded an even-par 72. She continued her solid play, beating her round one score with a 1-under-par 71 for a new collegiate-low score in round two. She capped the tournament with a 73, which gave the freshman her first top-5 finish.
Julia McLaughlin started strong in round one, sinking an eagle on hole four as she achieved a new collegiate-low score of 68 with four birdies. She finished day one tied for sixth, shooting a 75 to sit 1-under. She posted a 73 in round three, wrapping up the fall with her best finish in the top-5.
Freshman Anais Arafi had an impressive tournament, achieving a new collegiate-low score of 3-under-par 69 in round two behind five birdies after starting with a 74. She stayed competitive, remaining in the top-10 in the final round. Arafi finished the tournament with a 74 in round three, finishing the fall with her best placement in eighth place.
Anna Howerton faced some challenges in round one, shooting a 76, but quickly bounced back with a 5-under-67 with an astounding eight birdies to close out day one. In round three, Howerton carded a 74 for another top-10 finish in eighth place.
Freshman Savannah Cherry had a standout tournament as an individual, beginning with a solid round one score of 74. She significantly improved in round two, posting an impressive 4-under-par 68 for a new-collegiate low score, including five birdies to move her up the leaderboard. She carded a 75 in round three for a top-10 finish in eighth place, which is her best yet.
Sofia Benavides-Herberth had a solid tournament as an individual, starting with a consistent 1-under-par 71 in round one with four birdies and maintaining her form with an even par in round two. After the second round, she was tied for sixth alongside McLaughlin, Arafi, Matlega, and Howerton. She concluded the tournament with a round three score of 75 for a top-11 finish.
Competing in her first tournament as a Panther, Aubri Braecklein played as an individual and shot a pair of 74s on rounds one and two. She concluded the tournament with a final round score of 82.
In her first tournament this fall, Ana-Elena Kusters had an opening round of 79 and improved to 76 in round two to close the day. She closed out the tournament with a 79.
#GoHPU
