2018-19 Women's Golf Roster
Kelly Whaley
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Farmington, Conn.
- High School:
- Heritage Academy
General: Majoring in exercise & sport science with a minor in neuroscience.
2017-18: Has started for Carolina in every tournament in her career • Led the team in stroke average (73.24 – UNC record), rounds under par (8 – tied with Ava Bergner) and rounds in the 60s (4) • Has the two lowest tournament scores in school history – breaking her own record this season to win the Briar’s Creek Invitational at -12, 204 • First Tar Heel ever to shoot all three rounds in the 60s for a tournament, doing so at the Briar’s Creek Invitational (68-67-69) • Shot par or lower in eight out of her last 14 rounds • Had five top-15 finishes on the year, including top-five finishes in the last two tournaments of the regular season • Was the low-finishing Tar Heel in five of the seven spring tournaments.
2016-17: Started in every tournament in which the Tar Heels submitted a team • Got her first career win at the Cougar Classic after shooting 71, 66, 68 to win by one stroke • First Carolina individual win since April 2014 when Elizabeth Mallet, also a sophomore, won the SMU/Dallas Athletic Club Invitational • Set Carolina records for 54-hole tournament score and 54-hole tournament score vs. par with her 11-under-par 205 at the Cougar Classic • Tied Carolina records for individual round and individual round vs. par with her 6-under-par 66 at the Cougar Classic • Had two more top-10 finishes at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship and the Central District Invitational • The 66 at the Cougar Classic is the best round of her collegiate career • Was the top-finishing Tar Heel at four tournaments during the year • Finished with a 74.72 stroke average • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
2015-16: Competed in every tournament for the Tar Heels • Was the low Tar Heel at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge • Had two rounds of 1-under 71s • Finished second on the team in stroke average at 75.32 • Lowest stroke average for a freshman since Elizabeth Mallett in 2012-13 • Had three rounds of even par • Best finish at the ACC Championship where she tied for 10th at 3-over par.
Amateur: Three-time Champion of Connecticut Women’s Amateur • Finished 2nd in the AJGA girls championship • Rolex All-America honorable mention • AJGA Davis Love III winner.
Prep: State golf champion her freshman year • All-State and Player of the Year her freshman year • Ranked 26th in the AJGA Polo Rankings • Also played basketball her freshman year • transferred to the IJGA golf academy in Hilton Head, S.C • Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Parents are Suzy and Bill Whaley • Mother is the first woman ever elected as an Officer of the PGA of America. She is serving as the PGA Vice President. • Her mother played golf for Carolina and became the first woman to qualify for a PGA tour event in 58 years • Both parents are professional golfers • Her sister played golf at Quinnipiac.
More on Whaley
Why I chose Carolina: My mom played on the golf team and I loved the campus and all the girls on the team. I also love Carolina Blue!
My favorite pre-match ritual: I always have to make five putts before tee off
The best thing about Coach Mann is: She is so supportive and always so much help
The best thing about being a Tar Heel golfer: Being part of such a close-knit team. Everone is so supportive of each other and everyone is so driven to succeed
The best thing about going to school at Carolina is: Getting to meet so many new people
My advice for incoming freshman: Stay on top of things and manage your time well
At 150 yards, I pull out my: 7-iron
My favorite club in my bag is my: Driver
My favorite golf course: Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida
I would rather practice for an hour on the driving range or putting green: Driving range
My golf superstitions/rituals are: Wear same hat marker, same last day outfit, and wear a bow in my hair
Person I would like to play a round of golf with: Arnold Palmer
My greatest sports moment: Winning the Connecticut State Amateur three times
Career competitive round: 67 at 12 years old, CTPGA at Twin Hills Golf Club, Mass. 67 AJGA at Sea Ilsand, Ga., in 2014
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan
Favorite golfer: Paula Creamer
Favorite place to be: West Palm Beach, Florida
If I could compete in any other sport on a collegiate level, it would be: Soccer
Hobbies: Shopping, going to the beach and reading
Post-school ambitions: Become a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour
If I could go on any reality TV show, I would go on: Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Favorite TV show: Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill
Favorite Emoji: ??
If I had to describe myself in one word it would be: Outgoing
Whaley's Career Tournament Results
Fall 2015
Powerade Cougar Classic................................................ 76-79-73-228, +12 (T60)
Lady Paladin Invitational................................................... 77-73-75-225, +9 (T32)
Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational...................................... 73-77-80-230, +14 (T60)
The Landfall Tradition....................................................... 78-76-74-228, +12 (T53)
Spring 2016
Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge........................... 71-75-77-223, +10 (T28)
Darius Rucker Intercollegiate............................................ 74-71-75-220, +7 (T17)
LSU Tiger Golf Classic...................................................... 81-78-81-240, +24 (T61)
Bryan National Collegiate................................................. 75-80-75-230, +14 (T34)
ACC Championship.......................................................... 74-74-71-219, +3 (T10)
NCAA Stanford Regional.................................................. 73-75-73-221, +8 (T27)
NCAA Championships...................................................... 73-71-81-72-297, +9 (T61)
Fall 2016
Mercedes-Benz Collegiate................................................ 72-71-72-215, +2 (T10)
Cougar Classic.................................................................. 71-66-68-205, -11 (1)
Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational...................................... 75-73-75-223, +7 (T37)
The Landfall Tradition....................................................... 80-82-76-238, +22 (T84)
Spring 2017
Central District Challenge................................................. 72-75-74-221, +5 (T7)
Darius Rucker Intercollegiate............................................ 71-73-78-222, +9 (T27)
Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational..................................... 76-70-77-223, +7 (T32)
Briar's Creek Invitational................................................... 75-78-75-228, +12 (T64)
Bryan National Collegiate................................................. 73-76-77-226, +10 (T42)
ACC Championship.......................................................... 73-80-80-233, +17 (48)
NCAA Athens Regional.................................................... 78-74-73-225, +9 (T37)
NCAA Championships...................................................... 80-77-74-231, +15 (T45)
Fall 2017
Ocean Course Invitational................................................ 74-73-75-222, +3 (15)
Mason Rudolph Championship........................................ 73-74-76-223, +7 (T57)
Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational..................................... 74-72-71-217, +1 (T32)
Battle at the Beach........................................................... 74-75-70-219, +6 (T33)
Spring 2018
Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate.................................. 75-75-72—222, +6 (T11)
Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.......................................... 74-77-81—232, +19 (T69)
BYU at Entrada Classic................................................... 75-71-72–218, +2 (14)
Briar’s Creek Invitational................................................. 68-67-69–204, -12 (1)
Bryan National Collegiate................................................ 75-68-77–220, +4 (T5)
ACC Championship......................................................... 76-73-75—224, +8 (T25)
NCAA San Francisco Regional........................................ 71-73-72—216, E (T17)
