FRIPP ISLAND, S.C. – The High Point University women's golf team battled to the end, and thanks to Julia McLaughlin's medalist performance, the Panthers finished second in stroke play at the Big South Conference Women's Golf Championship on Tuesday afternoon. The team finished one stroke off Charleston Southern, which shot 50-over, through the three rounds. McLaughlin, who shot a 4-over 220, won her first collegiate tournament with this outstanding performance. 

McLaughlin is the fourth High Point golfer to be crowned medalist at the Big South Championship. She joins Sarah Kahn (2023), Samantha Vodry (2019), and AnnMarie Dalton (2008). Her first-place finish earns her an automatic bid to the NCAA DI Women's Golf Championships.

Site: Fripp Island, S.C. 
Course: Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort - Ocean Creek
Par/Yardage: 72/6032
Tournament: Big South Championships      

HPU Team Standing: 2nd of 9 teams (304, 303, 308, 915, +51) 
Top HPU Individual: 1 Julia McLaughlin +4 (70, 73, 77)
 
Head Coach Lyndsey Hunnell: "I'm so beyond happy for Jules. She played great here all week, and was always playing for her teammates. This was the first time she was in a final pairing of a college event with a chance at a win. Even through nerves, she did not let it get the best of her, and her last three holes were not shy of intense. I can't express how proud I am of her and all she's gone through for this to be her last collegiate event is special.Through tough windy conditions getting up to gusts of 30mph, the girls continued to persevere and grind. Our work isn't done yet though. We've got a lot of work to do, but these girls know how to get it done. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
 
Panther Placement 
1 Julia McLaughlin +4 (70,73,77)
T9 Anais Arafi +14 (76,76.78)
T14 Ella Perna +16 (79,76,77)
T21 Anna Howerton +21 (82,79,76)
T35 Savannah Cherry +29 (79,78,88)

Through Three Rounds
McLaughlin stayed at the top of the leaderboard for the entire tournament. She carded a 2-under-par 70 in the first round and shot 73, followed by a 77 in her final round. She shot an eagle on her first hole of the first day and kept the fire going all three days. She ended the three rounds with eight birdies. McLaughlin battled with CSU's Katie Stephens to the very last hole as McLaughlin secured the win with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18. McLaughlin broke the program's single-season eagle record (5) while earning her first medalist honors and being named to the Big South All-Championship Team.

"I just want to thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me all my life and in this tournament to win medalist," McLaughlin said. "I'm a sixth year and I've never won a collegiate golf tournament, so winning my final conference tournament is very special to me. My team and coaches have pushed me and prepared me for this moment. I wouldn't have done this without them. This win is for me but also for my team. For match play, we are looking to play as team and keep the momentum going."
 
Anais Arafi came in second for the Panthers with a ninth-place finish. She carded two back-back rounds 76 in her first Big South Tournament. The freshman ended her final round with 78. She carded five birdies across the three rounds.

Ella Perna shot a 79 in the first round and improved in round two with a 76 with two birdies. The junior wrapped the 54 holes with a round of 77 to tie for 14th place.

In the windy conditions, sophomore Anna Howerton carded a 82 in round one and shaved off three strokes in the following round with a 79. She finished with a 76 in round three and had three birdies.

Savannah Cherry carded a 79 for her first round. The freshman shot a 78 in the second round and finished out stroke play with an 88. She carded four birdies across the three rounds.

Match Play | Match Play Live Results
High Point earned the second seed in match play and will play on Wednesday, April 16, against third-seeded Radford, beginning at 8:05 a.m. The match-play winner will advance to the championship against CSU or UNC Asheville. The winner will receive an automatic team bid to the NCAA Regional held May 13-15th. 
 
Match Play Pairings
Savannah Cherry (1) Grace Addison
Anna Howerton (2) Caroline Girlreath
Anais Arafi (3) Macy Johnson
Julia McLaughlin (4) Shea Smith
Ella Perna (5) Hannah Lindemann

All-Championship Team (Top 5 finishers)
Julia McLaughlin, High Point (Medalist)
Katie Stephens, Charleston Southern
Odette Font Garcia, Charleston Southern
Grace Addison, Radford
Caroline Patterson, UNC Asheville