A photo on the 18th green (L-R) - Coach Geandra, Alex Naumovski, Carson McKie, Emily Felix, Lily Bloodworth, Supuschaya Srinchantamit, Coach John Maupin.
The No. 10 Lee women’s golf team made history in more ways than on Thursday evening. The Lady Flames finished fourth in the NCAA D2 National Championship from the Chattahoochee Golf Club to qualify for match play for the first time in program history.
After play on Thursday, senior Alex Naumovski became the first Lee golfer to earn NCAA D2 First All-American honors. Naumovski was also named to the All-Tournament team with a 220 (+4) finish after rounds of 69, 72, 79 to place tied for sixth.
Supuschaya Srinchantamit led the Lady Flames with an even par 216 (72, 71, 73) and was tied for third.
Emily Felix (78, 72, 81, 231) was tied for 48th while Lily Bloodworth (79, 78, 77, 234) finished tied for 62nd and Carson McKie (78, 80, 80, 238) was tied for 78th.
“I’m just so proud of these girls and I’m so proud of Alex and everything that she has done for this program. She is a true leader on and off the course,” said Lee Director of Golf John Maupin. “We’re excited for tomorrow. Match play is certainly a different animal with some different strategy but at the end of the day we just need to go out and continue to play the type of golf that we are capable of and we believe some good things can happen out there for us.”
As a team the Lady Flames shot 899 (+35) and will finished fourth. No. 1 Dallas Baptist was first (884), No. 4 Anderson (894) was second and No. 3 Limestone (898) edged the Lady Flames for third. No. 7 Barry filed in at fifth (900), No. 12 West Texas A&M (901) was sixth and No. 2 Lynn (907) claimed the seventh spot. No. 5 Findlay secured the final match play spot edging No. 13 Henderson State by one stroke, 913-914.
“I’m very happy to represent Lee as the first All-American First Team selection,” said Naumovski. “To be able to come in and compete in a national championship as a senior transfer has been really special. Match play will be fun, and I certainly plan on being aggressive and trying to give my team a win.” Naumovski will be matched against Barry’s Alice Gotbring, who was named the NCAA D2 Player of the Year. Gotbring finished tied for 8th at 221.
Anahi Servin of the Academy of Art took home the individual national title with a 5-under 211. Olivia Mitchell of Dallas Baptist finished second at 1-under.
The Lady Flames will be the No. 4 seed and go head-to-head with the fifth-seed Barry Bucs. Srinchantamit will lead off the Lady Flames against Sapin at 8:40. McKie will battle Gomez at 8:48. Felix will tangle with Klug at 8:56. Bloodworth will duel with Cowan at 9:04 and playing the anchor will be Naumovski’s showdown with Gotbring at 9:12.