Charleston Southern Wins 2024 Big South Women's Golf Championship
FRIPP ISLAND, S.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – One day after finishing first in the stroke play portion of the Big South Women's Golf Championship,
Charleston Southern won the conference’s match play title Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over
USC Upstate to earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals. The Buccaneers claimed their first Big South title since 2010 and seventh overall -- tied for second-most in league history, and will compete in the NCAA Regionals for the fourth time.
USC Upstate won the first point when Preaw Nontarux defeated Madison Freeman, 8&6, in the fourth match. The Bucs then claimed the next three points to secure the victory, beginning with Caroline Engelbredt’s 3&2 win over Suwarin Yord-in in the third match. Elsie Verhoeven followed with a 2&1 triumph over Rylie Kosney in the second match, and CSU clinched the crown shortly thereafter when Katie Stephens overtook Alexis Reili on the 16th hole and held on over the final two holes to finish 1UP.
In the morning Semifinals, Charleston Southern defeated No. 4 seed Longwood, 3-2, as Big South Medalist Odette Font Garcia’s 2UP win over the Lancers’ Bre Hoese in the fifth match sealed the victory and berth in the Championship final. After the Bucs secured the first point, the teams alternated wins before Font Garcia prevailed.
USC Upstate reached its third Big South Match Play final in four seasons after defeating No. 3 seed High Point, 3-1. The Spartans won match two for a 1-0 lead, then reeled off victories in matches three and five for the clincher. Nontarux provided the winning margin with her 3&2 win over Danielle Suh.
Match Play Results - Finals
#1 Charleston Southern defeats #2 USC Upstate, 3-1
Order of finish:
M4: Preaw Nontarux (UPST) defeats Madison Freeman (CSU), 8&6 (UPST leads 1-0)
M3: Caroline Engelbredt (CSU) defeats Suwarin Yord-in (UPST), 3&2 (match tied 1-1)
M2: Elsie Verhoeven (CSU) defeats Rylie Kosney (UPST), 2&1 (CSU leads 2-1)
M1: Katie Stephens (CSU) defeats Alexis Reili (UPST), 1UP (CSU wins 3-1)
M5: Odette Font Garcia (CSU) vs. Supatta Puttanavarat (UPST) 3UP thru 15 (unfinished)
Match Play Results - Semifinals
#1 Charleston Southern defeats #4 Longwood, 3-2
Order of finish:
M1: Caroline Engelbredt (CSU) defeats Lauren Sims (LW), 5&4 (CSU leads 1-0)
M2: Annabelle Jennings (LW) defeats Katie Stephens (CSU), 4&2 (match tied 1-1)
M3: Elsie Verhoeven (CSU) defeats Ester Choi (LW), 3&2 (CSU leads 2-1)
M4: Emma Landis (LW) defeats Madison Freeman (CSU), 4&2 (match tied 2-2)
M5: Odette Font Garcia (CSU) defeats Bre Hoese (LW), 2UP (CSU wins, 3-2)
#2 USC Upstate defeats #3 High Point, 3-1
Order of finish:
M2: Rylie Kosney (UPST) defeats Maddie Hensley (HPU), 3&2 (UPST leads 1-0)
M4: Ella Perna (HPU) defeats Suwarin Yord-in (UPST), 4&3 (match tied 1-1)
M3: Supatta Puttanavarat (UPST) defeats Anna Howerton (HPU), 2&1 (UPST leads 2-1)
M5: Preaw Nontarux (UPST) defeats Danielle Suh (HPU), 3&2 (UPST wins 3-1)
M1: Alexis Reili (UPST) vs. Julia McLaughlin (HPU), AS through 19 holes, 20th hole unfinished