CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The No. 2 (Scorecard Division II ranking by clippd) Flagler College women's golf team is going to the NCAA Division II National Championships for the first time after they finished in third place with a 14-over par 878 (296-287-295) at the NCAA Division II South Regional, which wrapped up play Wednesday afternoon at Cleveland Country Club (par 72; 5,957 yards).
 
The Saints also became the first women's golf team from the Peach Belt Conference to advance to nationals since the league started the sport in 2009-10.
 
No. 6 Anderson University led the 12-team field wire-to-wire and ended with an 8-under 856 (282-289-285). The Trojans finished with a 19-stroke lead over No. 11 Lynn University, which carded an 11-over 875 (296-291-288). No. 16 Lee University finished in fourth place with a 16-over 880 (298-294-288). No. 3 Nova Southeastern University was the last team to qualify for national as it finished in fifth place with a 28-over 892 (297-297-298).
 
Anderson's Kennedy McGaha won medalist honors as she finished atop the 66-woman field with a 12-under 204 (68-68-68). She finished nine strokes ahead of Sara Ericsson of Lynn and Flagler's Stella Jelinek. Both ended with a 3-under 213. Jelinek finished with a 3-over 75 in today's final round. She made par on the first two holes, but followed with a double bogey and a bogey on the next two holes. She answered with a birdie and closed out the front nine with four straight pars. Jelinek made pars on the first three holes of the back nine, before a bogey on No. 13. She went birdie, par, bogey after that and made pars on the final two holes.   

The two individuals advancing to national were Ana Maria Jimenez Rios of the University of Tampa (-2, 214) and Josefine Winkle of Lander University (E, 216).
 
Henriette Stranda also finished in the top 10 as she tied for eighth place. She carded a 2-over 218 (74-67-77). Jordyn Hodgson moved up nine spots to finish in a tie for 12^th place with a 4-over 220 (77-73-70). Sophie Wheeler jumped eight spots to finish in a tie for 41^st place with a 13-over 229 (77-79-73). Shanya Arasu tied for 53^rd place with a 17-over 233 (78-77-78).
 
NCAA Division II South Regional (Final Round)
May 6-8, 2024
Cleveland Country Club – Cleveland, Tenn.
Par: 72 | Yards: 5,957

Team scores
1) Anderson 282-289-285=856 (-8)
2) Lynn 296-291-288=875 (+11)
3) Flagler 296-287-295=878 (+14)
4) Lee 298-294-288=880 (+16)
5) Nova Southeastern 297-297-298=892 (+28)
6) Saint Leo 294-300-299=893 (+29)
7) Rollins 308-300-289=897 (+33)
8) Limestone 312-301-296=909 (+45)
9) West Florida 305-305-301=911 (+47)
10) Wingate 302-314-298=914 (+50)
11) Barry 305-302-309=916 (+52)
12) North Greenville 318-322-304=944 (+80)
 
Top 10 individuals
1) Kennedy McGaha (AU) 68-68-68=204 (-12)
t2) Sara Ericsson (LU) 72 (E) 72-72-69=213 (-3)
t2) Stella Jelinek (FLG) 68-70-75=213 (-3)
t4) *Ana Maria Jimenez Rios (UT) 77-72-65=214 (-2)
t4) Kennedy Gooding (AU) 71-72-71=214 (-2)
6) *Josefine Winkle (LAN) 71-69-76=216 (E)
7) Charlotte Brook (LU) 72-74-71=217 (+1)
t8) Supuschaya Srichantamit (LEE) 71-76-71=218 (+2)
t8) Henriette Stranda (FLG) 74-67-77=218 (+2)
t10) *Kajsa Lindqvist (LAN) 76-75-68=219 (+3)
t10) Jessica Rathbone (AU) 71-74-74=219 (+3)
 
Flagler scorers:
t2) Stella Jelinek 68-70-75=213 (-3)
t8) Henriette Stranda 74-67-77=218 (+2)
t12) Jordyn Hodgson 77-73-70=220 (+4)
t41) Sophie Wheeler 77-79-73=229 (+13)
t53) Shanya Arasu 78-77-78=233 (+17)

*-playing as an individual
 
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