NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt women’s golf opens the NCAA Lexington Regional on Monday, aiming to return to the NCAA Championships for the fourth consecutive season.
The three-day, 54-hole regional is being held at Keene Trace Golf Club and the Champion Trace course. Champion Trace is teed at 6,095 yards and a par of 72 for the regional.
The Commodores are making their 25th regional appearance in program history and will battle a field featuring 12 teams: Florida State, USC, TCU, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, Georgia Southern, Pepperdine, Louisville, Miami, Western Kentucky, Morehead State and Fairleigh Dickinson. The top five teams at the regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, California, on May 16-21.
“Having the opportunity to play college golf in May means that you’ve had a pretty good regular season,” head coach Greg Allen said. “Making it to the NCAA Tournament is something this team will never take for granted, especially now with the .500 rule in effect. We are grateful to be here and ready to fight for a chance to advance to La Costa.
“It’s also nice this time of year to have school behind us so the focus is nothing but golf. That has shown the past couple of days at practice.”
Vandy will send Tillie Claggett, Sara Im, Lynn Lim, Ava Merrill and Angelina Tolentino to the tee box for the regionals. Claire Henson will serve as the Dores’ alternate in Lexington.
“I feel like we are prepared and have the mindset that you need to be successful at regionals,” said Allen. “It will take a team effort and we will need all five of them to be in the round each day. We know there are five spots available and we believe on of them belongs to us. No one will be giving them out, so we’re ready to fight for it.”
Vanderbilt will tee off on hole No. 10 at 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT on Monday. The fourth-seeded Commodores will play the first round alongside No. 5 Kansas State and No. 6 Georgia Southern. Live scoring for the regional will be available on Scoreboard.
