Wake Forest wins ACC Championship

A strong back nine performance lifted top-seeded Wake Forest to a 3-1-1 match play victory against No. 2 Florida State in the finals of the ACC Women’s Golf Championship at The Reserve Golf Club.

It marked the Demon Deacons seventh overall ACC title and the second under head coach Kim Lewellen.

“What a great venue and what a great group of young ladies,” said Lewellen. “They've worked exceptionally hard. After the COVID year, we were having such a great season and had a great season last year but we didn't finish like we wanted to so it’s just extra special to win it this year."

Florida State led on three of the five matches at the turn, but Wake Forest countered to earn on the back nine.

Charlotte Heath gave Florida State a 1-0 lead with a 3&1 victory over Carolina Lopez-Chacarra. Heath won holes 3-5 to take the early lead in the match and closed out the victory with a birdie on hole No. 17.

Wake Forest drew even when Rachel Kuehn rolled in a 25-foot eagle putt on the final hole for a 1 up victory over Amelia Williamson in a match where the two players were never separated by more than a hole.

Virunpat Olankitkunchai gave Wake Forest its first lead of the day, defeating Beatrice Wallin, 2&1, in the final group. After tying holes 11-14, Olankitkunchai shot even par on holes No. 15, 16 and 17 to earn the win and push the Wake Forest advantage to 2-1.

Minutes later, Lauren Walsh clinched the championship for the Demon Deacons with a birdie putt on the 18th hole to defeat Alice Hodge and give Wake Forest its second ACC title in the past three years the event has been held.

Wake Forest’s Mimi Rhodes, who had a hole-in-one on hole No. 12, was 1 up through 17 on Cecilie Finne-Ipsen when the match was clinched, so the match was recorded as a tie.

"We didn't even have a chance to defend the title in 2020 and losing in the semifinals to Florida State last year definitely put a bad taste in our mouth," said Walsh. "We were so ready to play and compete this week and get the job done. We were excited to play today and couldn't be happier we're ACC Champions."

“I love match play,” Lewellen added. “I mean, look how exciting it is. I think it gets us ready for NCAA play as well because it's the format that we're going to have at our championships."

Final Results (in order of finish)
Wake Forest d. Florida State, 3-1-1
Rachel Kuehn (WFU) def. Amelia Williamson (FSU), 1 up
Charlotte Heath (FSU) def. Carolina Lopez Chacarra (WFU), 3&1
Lauren Walsh (WFU) def. Alice Hodge (FSU), 1 up
Virunpat Olknkikunchi (WFU) def. Beatrice Wallin (FSU), 2&1
Cecilie Finne-Ipsen (FSU) vs. Mimi Rhodes (WFU), Tied

Wake Forest Athletic Communications contributed to this report.