Record-setting win for Wake Forest at UCF Challenge

February 8, 2022 | by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com

Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Demon Deacons record second-lowest 54-hole team score in relation to par in NCAA history while Chacarra takes medalist honors

Hey, big brother, move over and make room for little sis.

Less than a week following Eugenio Chacarra's first collegiate win for Oklahoma State at the Amer Ari Invitational, his little sister, Carolina, followed suit by picking up her maiden victory to lead Wake Forest to the team title at the UCF Challenge which wrapped up on Tuesday at the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.

Ironically, the Chacarras both carded final rounds of 10-under 62 en route to their first individual titles, but Carolina might have one-upped her brother, as her winning total of 24-under was the lowest 54-hole score in relation to par in Wake Forest history and tied for the second-lowest score in NCAA history.

Speaking of records, the Demon Deacons finished the tournament at 45-under par 819 and won the tournament by 14 strokes over Kentucky, also recording the second-lowest 54-hole team score in relation to par in NCAA history.

"What an incredible tournament," said Wake Forest head coach Kim Lewellen. "To have Carolina finish with two school records as a freshman and the team to come within one stroke of the NCAA record is amazing."

.@carolchacarra’s final round was 👌#GoDeacs 🎩⛳️ pic.twitter.com/fGgHuF05IY
— Wake Women's Golf (@WakeWGolf) February 8, 2022

Due to inclement weather in the Orlando area, the third round of play was split between Monday and Tuesday. After opening with a 3-under 69 on Sunday, Chacarra took control of the tournament over the last two days, firing rounds of 66 and 62 to claim the individual title with a 19-under score of 197, which was good for a four-stroke victory over reigning U.S. Women's Amateur champion and Kentucky junior Jensen Castle.

Wake Forest junior Rachel Kuehn, who carded a pair of 67s in the first two rounds, picked up two birdies on her final six holes on Tuesday for a final round of 70 to finish in third place at 12-under 204.

Chacarra began her final round on Monday by making five birdies to go along with an eagle over her first nine holes. She started her Tuesday with six holes remaining and birdied half of them en route to a final round of 62, which is the lowest 18-hole score in Wake Forest history and the second-lowest in NCAA history.

Wake Forest's dominating victory overshadowed a fine performance by Castle and the Wildcats.

The U.S. Women's Amateur champion strung together rounds of 66-69-66 to finish at 15-under 201, which broke Kentucky's 54-hole school record of 205 previously held by Leonie Bettel (2018).

Meet @jensen_castle. She's a junior who just tied her career-best round not once but 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟱𝟰-𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟭.

(She's the 2021 U.S. Women's Amateur champ, too 😉) pic.twitter.com/1OeCT3gKzR
— Kentucky Women’s Golf (@KentuckyWGolf) February 8, 2022

Laney Frye (68-70-69) and Rikke Svejgård Nielsen (69-66-72) posted identical total scores of 9-under-par 207 to tie for fourth. The pair are now the co-owners of the third-best 54-hole score in school history, only behind Castle (201) and Bettel (205).

At 31-under 833 for the tournament, the Wildcats shattered their previous 54-hole school record of 858 set in 2018.

"What a tremendous week we have had," said Kentucky head coach Golda Borst. "I am just amazed and so proud of this team. They kept their poise, stayed calm and kept their foot on the gas for the entire 54 holes.

"As a group, they got out of their comfort zone, and to see them shatter our previous 54-hole low score like this — it gives me chills. There is no challenge they can't face and it's a beautiful way to kick off the spring season."

Wake Forest and Kentucky Athletic Communication Depts. contributed to this report

Results: UCF Challenge

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Carolina Lopez-Chacarra	, Spain	600	69-66-62=197
2	Jensen Castle	West Columbia, SC	400	66-69-66=201
3	Rachel Kuehn	Asheville, NC	300	67-67-70=204
T4	Laney Frye	Lexington, KY	300	68-70-69=207
T4	Tunrada Piddon	, Thailand	300	67-71-69=207

View full results for UCF Challenge

About the UCF Challenge

Record-setting win for Wake Forest at UCF Challenge

54-hole stroke play event hosted by the University of Central Florida women's golf team. Team (best four scores of five players) and individual competitions.