Women's Golf Shoots 2nd-Best Round At Moon Golf

Tuesday, February 22

Melbourne, Fla. (Suntree C.C.)

All Day

North Carolina

Moon Golf Invitational Day Three

Krista Junkkari
University of North Carolina WomenÕs Golf
RuthÕs Chris Day One
Finley Golf Course
Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, October 15, 2021

Photo by: Andy Mead

February 22, 2022 | Women's Golf

Mood Golf Rd 3

7 Under Par Ties 6th-Best Round in UNC History

By: Steve Kirschner

Juniors Kayla Smith and Krista Junkkari shot 3-under-par 69s to lead the University of North Carolina to a 7-under-par finish on Tuesday, which equaled the second-best team score of the third and final round of the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Fla.

Carolina's 7-under 281 on Tuesday was UNC's best round since 2018 and tied the sixth-best round in Tar Heel women's golf history.

Florida State, which won the tournament at 10-under 854, also shot 7 under today, and Alabama had the low round of the day at 9 under. The Tide finished fourth on the Suntree Country Club Classic Course.

"Today was an outstanding day for UNC women's golf as we competed with the best teams in the nation," says the Tar Heels' first-year head coach Aimee Neff. "We showed what we are capable of. Our juniors, Kayla and Krista led the way for us with a pair of 69s and Nicole (Adam) and Stephany (Kim) played very well as well, shooting 1 under and even par."

The Tar Heels were 12^th in the 15-team field, finishing just two strokes behind Baylor and Duke, which tied for 10^th.

Adam (71) and Kim (72) and shot their lowest rounds of the season today.

Smith made three birdies and played bogey-free all day. The Burlington, N.C., native placed 17^th in the 84-player field, her fourth top-20 finish in five tournaments this season.

Junkkari eagled her first hole of the day, the 513-yard par-5 10^th, and added two birdies to shoot 69.

"Kayla hit 17 greens today and kept a clean scorecard," says Neff. "Krista finished strong, which was great to see her bounce back and fight to the finish. That's something I want our program to be known for. No matter what hole we are on in a tournament, it's important for us to fight to the finish. I am proud of the way we showed that today and delivered the second-best round of the day."

The Tar Heels return to competition February 28-March 2 at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

"We want to build off this experience and get ready to play the Darius Rucker tournament, which will be nationally televised and will include another strong field," says Neff."