Therese Hession Regional: South Carolina wins the weather-shortened event
2/5/2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for Northrop Grumman Challenge, Palos Verdes Golf Club
Heavy rain and win forced the tournament to cancel the final round and crown South Carolina over Texas in a tiebreaker
South Carolina won the Therese Hession Regional Team Challenge, also known as the Northrop Grumman Challenge, at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., after the medal matches were canceled due to heavy rain and wind hitting the area overnight.
The Gamecocks earned the victory by way of a tiebreaker over Texas. The two teams were tied on the first tiebreak criteria with the most points won over three matches with ten. Carolina edged the Longhorns, 35-34, on the next tiebreak criteria, which was total holes won.
Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist went 3-0 in matches for the Gamecocks. Vairana Heck went 2-1, and Mia Sandtorv Lussand and Sophia Burnett each picked up wins in Carolina’s 4-1 upset over Wake Forest in the semifinals.
The winning team earned a sponsor exemption for one player into the LPGA’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship March 21-24 at Palos Verdes Golf Club. Darling was selected to represent the Gamecocks and make her professional debut.
The win marks the 25th of head coach Kalen Anderson’s career at South Carolina. It’s the team’s second win of the season, as South Carolina won the season-opening ANNIKA Intercollegiate back in September.
This unique collegiate tournament is hosted by The Ohio State University and was founded by Cathy (Hanlon) Marino, a PVGC Hall of Fame member, Therese Hession, Ohio State University Women's Golf Coach, and Sid Croft, a longtime PVGC member.
Marino and Hession were both former members of the Southern Methodist women's golf team and competitors on the LPGA Tour. In 1995, while Marino was the head coach at SMU and Hession was in her third year at Ohio State, they developed the idea of having a ladies' collegiate event in Southern California early in the year to kick off the Spring season.
Marino had been a high school star at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, and she approached her good friend, Sid Croft, PVGC Board Counsel, about the possibility. Croft took the idea to the PVGC Board of Directors, which unanimously approved the idea and the first tournament was held in February 1996.
About the Northrop Grumman Challenge
Women's college tournament started in 1996 as a way to kick off the Spring season. Team (best four scores out of five players) and individual competitions.
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