A Kentucky sweep at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
The Kentucky Wildcats outlasted No. 2 Wake Forest to win the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational on Tuesday at the Governor's Club in Chapel Hill, NC.
Kentucky posted rounds of 290-283-287 for a 54-hole total of 4-under 860, which was good for a five-stroke win over No. 2 Wake Forest. This marks Kentucky's second consecutive victory after the 'Cats won the Illini Women’s Invitational at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club last week.
Wake Forest came into the final round just two strokes back of Kentucky, but shot 3-over 285 in the final round to come up five strokes short.
Kentucky senior Jensen Castle, the 2021 U.S. Women's Amateur champion, eagled the next-to-last hole of regulation to force a playoff with Duke's Phoebe Brinker and won the individual title on the first extra hole to complete a Wildcat sweep.
After carding a 2-over round of 74 in her opening round on Monday, Castle shot herself back into the tournament with a 5-under 67 in round two. Starting her final round tied for seventh place at 3-under 141, Castle came out on fire on Tuesday with birdies on each of her first three holes.
However, she was 2-under on her round through 16 holes but an eagle on the par-5, 510-yard 17th gave the West Columbia, SC a share of the lead at 7-under. Castle prevailed in the playoff with a par on the par-3 ninth hole to seal the victory.
Castle and teammate Laney Frye did most of the heavy lifting for the Wildcats, as Frye finished just one stroke out of the playoff at 6-under 210 after rounds of 68-71-71.
After a two-year winless drought, the 'Cats have now won two tournaments in a row following their impressive showing at last week's Illini Women’s Invitational, where they turned in a school-record 34-under-par 830 for a five-stroke win over No. 22 Auburn.
It's been a good two weeks in Lexington. Last Thursday, head coach Golda Borst, who is in her 13th season at the helm of the program, agreed to a contract extension that will keep her in Lexington through the 2026 season.
ABOUT THE Tar Heel Invitational
54-hole women's college
tournament
hosted
by the University of North Carolina. Team (best four
scores out of five players each round) and individual
competitions.
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