The history making Arkansas Razorbacks
(South Carolina Athletics Photo)
BIRMINGHAM, AL (April 22, 2018) - First the time in program history Arkansas has won the SEC Women's Championship besting South Carolina 3-2 in the title match at Greystone Golf and Country Club.
With the inaugural match play SEC title on the line and things squared with top-seeded South Carolina 2-2 it all came down to the match between Kaylee Benton and Friday's medalist winner Ainhoa Olarra.
Teeing of on the final hole Benton led 1 up and after hitting her second shot on the par-4 closing hole to 30-feet she found herself in good position. Olarra had a chance for some late heroics but after her third shot from the fridge missed and Benton putted her birdie try close the hole was conceded and Arkansas had made history.
“Yah, ya know it was a tough match all day long. I started out 2-down through two and she (her opponent) was just not messing up – throwing some darts. I stayed in it. I stayed patient and kept giving myself some looks, and I got it to 2-up," said Kaylee Benton.
Three-seeded Arkansas got their other wins from Maria Fassi 2&1 over Anita Uwadia and Dylan Kim 2&1 over Lois Kaye Go.
South Carolina, in search of their second conference title and first since 2002, got their championship match wins from Marion Veysseyre 2 up over Cara Gorlei and Ana Pelaez in 19 holes over Alana Uriell.
For Arkansas the win was their sixth of the year.
“It’s everything for this program. These young ladies worked so hard and they put in the time and effort in the gym, in the classroom and on the course," said head coach Shauna Taylor. "To finally get a championship for our women’s golf program at Arkansas, it’s been a long time coming and gosh, I’m just so proud of our student-athletes."
Of Note: Arkansas head coach Shauna Taylor became the first in SEC history to win the conference championship as both a player and a coach. Taylor played her golf at Georgia.
Editor's Note: Arkansas athletics contributed to this story
QUARTERFINAL/SEMIFINAL RECAP
The title match of the 2018 SEC Women's Championship will feature top-seeded South Carolina and third-seeded Arkansas. Both teams won quarterfinal and semifinal matches Saturday at Greystone Country Club to advance to Sunday's championship tilt.
South Carolina, in search of their first SEC title since 2002, earned the top spot by way of a 3-over stroke play finish. On Saturday the Gamecocks advanced to the finals with a 3-0-2 win over No. 8 Missouri and a 4-1 victory against No. 4 Georgia in the semifinals.
Arkansas, looking for their first ever league championship, moved on following a 3-2 triumph over No. 6 Florida in the quarterfinals and then a 3-1-1 win over second-seed Alabama.
Championship Match Pairings
all times EST
Match 1 (7:00 a.m.) Anita Uwadia vs. Maria Fassi
Match 2 (7:10 a.m.) Marion Veysseyre vs. Cara Gorlei
Match 3 (7:20 a.m.) Ana Pelaez vs. Alana Uriell
Match 4 (7:30 a.m.) Ainhoa Olarra vs. Kaylee Benton
Match 5 (7:40 a.m.) Lois Kaye Go vs. Dylan Kim
ABOUT THE SEC Women's Championship
54-hole stroke play tournament crowns an individual
champion, then four teams advance to match play
to
determine the SEC team champion.
View Complete Tournament Information