Women's Tennis, Men's Golf Win ACC Championships

Posted on May 3, 2024

The women’s tennis team hosts Navy at 6 p.m. on May 3 in the opening round of the NCAA Regionals. Led by Coach Brian Kalbas, Carolina hopes to continue its winning ways when they compete in the Tar Heels’ Chewning Tennis Center on Friday Center Drive.

The women’s team is coming off its first Atlantic Coast Conference Championship since 2021 and its 12th overall, having defeated Virginia last month. The Tar Heels were the number one seed in the tournament, which was held in Cary.

UNC clinched the doubles point with a 6–2 victory by graduate Abbey Forbes and senior Reilly Tran. Senior Elizabeth Scotty secured the first singles point for the team after rebounding from a 6–0 loss to win the next two games 6–1, 6–2. Tran won her match in straight sets, and freshman Tatum Evans clinched the championship by putting the Tar Heels up 4–1.

The win secured an automatic bid for the Tar Heels to the NCAA tournament and its date with Navy. Singles and doubles championships begin May 20. The Tar Heels hope to defend last year’s team and doubles national championships.

The men’s golf team joined the women’s tennis team in capturing an ACC championship last month, their first outright conference title since 1996. The team shared the 2006 championship with Georgia Tech. After finishing in first place in the three-round stroke play portion of the tournament, Carolina entered match play as the number one seed in the event, which was held in Charlotte.

UNC faced Florida State in the championship. Graduate student Austin Greaser and junior David Ford each earned close victories, leaving it up to junior Maxwell Ford or senior Peter Fountain to clinch the championship. Fountain made a clutch putt on the 17th hole to secure the title.

This is Carolina’s seventh win this season and ties the program record set in 1982–83. UNC will host the NCAA Regional at Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill beginning May 13.

— Cameron Hayes Fardy ’23