Evolution of a Program Enter Austin As Head Coach
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Tar Heel History • Carolina Women’s Golf Since being elevated to varsity sport status in 1974, the women’s golf Kimberly Byham, Carolina defeated Florida State by two strokes to capture program at the University of North Carolina has experienced much success. the ACC title. Dongier also won the ACC individual crown in 1992. The Tar Heels have won 35 team tournament championships, 44 individual In 1992-93 the Tar Heels were a senior-dominated team led by Byham who tournament championships and finished in the top 20 nationally 15 times in won the Tar Heel Invitational the program’s history. The Tar Heels enter a new era under the direction of and finished third at the ACC first-year head coach Jan Mann. Tournament. Byham went on to Mann takes over the helm and continues to cultivate the tradition win the NCAA East Regional established by veteran coaches Sally Austin and Dot Gunnells. Austin led the at Baton Rouge, La., and was Tar Heels for 16 seasons (1994-2009) after Gunnells established and guided named the Tar Heels’ second- the program for 18 years (1976-1993), thrusting it among the nation’s elite. ever first-team All-America. Ten Tar Heels have been named All-America on 13 occasions, with Katie Head Coach Dot Gunnells was Peterson, Marcy Newton and Ashley Prange being the only two-time honorees: named the National Coach Linda Mescan (third team 1982), Page Marsh (second team 1983), Katie of the Year and was inducted Peterson (honorable mention 1988, first team 1989), Donna Andrews (second into the National Golf Coaches team 1989), Kimberly Byham (first team 1993), Kelly McCall (honorable Association Hall of Fame. mention 1997), Megan Morgan (honorable mention 1998), Marcy Newton Carolina placed second at (second team 1999, honorable mention 2000), Ashley Prange (honorable the 1993 ACC Championships mention 2003, first team 2004) and Meaghan Francella (first team 2004). and again tied for eighth at In addition, 15 Carolina golfers have been named to All-Atlantic Coast the NCAA Tournament. That Conference teams on 23 occasions over the years: Page Marsh (1985), Debbie marked the third time Carolina Doniger (1992), Kimberly Byham (1992, 1993), Jessica Wood (1993), Kelly had placed eighth at NCAAs in McCall (1996, 1997), Marcy Newton (1997, 1999, 2000), Megan Morgan a five-year span. (1998), Ashley Prange (2002, 2003, 2004), Meaghan Francella (2003, 2004), Enter Austin as Head Katie Miller (2005, 2007), Ann Laney (2006), Lauren Hunt (2007), Sydney Coach Crane (2008), Catherine O’Donnell (2009) and Allie White (2009). The 1993-94 squad, Sally Gunnells, who retired at the conclusion of the 1993 season, was named Austin’s first as the Carolina ACC Coach of the Year after the 1984-85 season and NCGA (National Golf head coach, picked up right Marcy Newton, three-time All-ACC Coaches Association) National Coach of the Year in 1993. Two Tar Heels where its predecessors had performer as a Tar Heel, captured the 2000 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship have been selected the ACC Freshman of the Year: Marcy Newton in 1997 left off. The ‘94 Tar Heels to go with her 1995 U.S. Girls’ Junior and Catherine O’Donnell in 2009. finished second at the ACC Championship, one of only six players to Evolution of a Program Championships before going win both tournaments. The 1970s found the Tar Heel program in a building stage. Players such as on to finish 16th at the NCAA Sally Austin and Stephanie Kornegay led the women’s team to 14 tournament Championships. Staci Aber was named to the 1993-94 National Golf Coaches titles between 1974 and 1980. Association All-Scholar team. By the beginning of the 1980s, Gunnells had developed a program that was The 1994-95 team earned UNC its fourth top-10 NCAA finish in seven years. known throughout the collegiate ranks for its overall outstanding play. The Austin led Carolina to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Tar Heels were led by a host of talented players with Linda Mescan, a third- Sophomore Kelly McCall was the Tar Heels’ top finisher in four of six spring team All-America in 1981-82, and Page Marsh, a third-team All-America tournaments and won the first individual title of her collegiate career, the 1995 in 1982-83, leading the way. Carolina golfers won eight team tournament Duke Invitational. championships and 11 individual titles from 1980 to 1986. The 1995-96 team posted a third-place finish at the ACC Championships The 1988-89 season was one of the Tar Heels’ finest overall campaigns. and finished 12th at the NCAA East Regional. McCall, an All-ACC performer, That year found the Tar Heels with a strong starting five which included two carded a fourth-place finish at the Tar Heel Invitational and a seventh-place All-Americas, Katie Peterson and Donna Andrews. In addition, Gunnells finish at the ACC Championships. Rachel Poston was selected to the 1996 was named East Region GTE Academic All-America District III At-Large Team. Coach of the Year for The 1996-97 squad finished third at the ACC Championships and tied for 1988-89. Carolina seized 10th at the NCAA East Regional. McCall and Marcy Newton were selected five tournament titles out to the All-ACC team and Newton was named the ACC Freshman of the Year. of the 10 tournaments it The Tar Heels carded seven top-three finishes in their 10 tournaments and won entered and went on to the three individual titles as McCall was victorious twice and Newton once. best-ever national finish The 1997-98 team finished 15th at the NCAA Championships after placing for a UNC women’s golf third at the ACC Tournament. Carolina won the Betsy Rawls Longhorn team, eighth-place at the Classic and Megan Morgan was selected to the All-ACC team and honorable NCAA Championships. mention All-America. The 1990s continued In 1998-99, Carolina tied for ninth place at the NCAA East Regional. to bring great women’s The Tar Heels won their first tournament of the year, the Lady Seminole golf success to Chapel Invitational, and Marcy Newton won the Fripp Island Intercollegiate. Newton Hill. Since 1988-89, was selected to the All-ACC team and also named second-team All-America. three other Carolina teams The 1999-00 squad carded a third-place finish at the ACC Championships have finished eighth at and finished 17th at the NCAA East Regional. Marcy Newton, an All-ACC NCAAs. The 1991-92, performer and honorable mention All-America, advanced to the NCAA 1992-93 and 1994-95 Championship as an individual. Newton captured the third individual title squads all finished in of her career, winning the Bryan National Collegiate, and posted nine top-15 eighth place at the NCAA finishes in 11 tournaments. Championships. The 2000-01 team finished in fourth place at the ACC Championships and The 1992 Tar Heels tied for 15th at the NCAA East Regional played in Chapel Hill. finished eighth at the In 2001-02, Carolina posted three top-five finishes as Ashley Prange NCAA Championships, was selected to the All-ACC team. The Tar Heels finished fifth at the ACC becoming the school’s Championships and placed 16th at the NCAA East Regional. Former Tar Heel golfer Amber Marsh Elliott captured the 2003 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur first-ever ACC title- The 2002-03 squad tallied a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Championship. winning team. Led by Prange and Meaghan Francella were both selected to the All-ACC team, the Debbie Doniger and second consecutive year for Prange, who was also named honorable mention Page 26 • 2009-10 North Carolina Women’s Golf Media Guide Carolina Women’s Golf • Tar Heel History All-America. Three Tar Heels won individual titles. Francella captured the overall consistent ACC title marking the second time a Tar Heel has claimed the title. Prange Top 25 National Finishes play earned her and Abby Spector also picked up the first win of their collegiate careers and the recognition Carolina was victorious at the Pine Needles Intercollegiate. Year Finish Head Coach necessary to be The 2003-04 team tied for 15th place at the NCAA Championships after 1976-77 . .20th (AIAW) ..... Dot Gunnells voted a second- finishing third at the ACC Tournament. Prange and Francella were both first- 1977-78 . .10th (AIAW) ..... Dot Gunnells team All-America. team All-Americas and All-ACC performers. The Tar Heels won two team 1980-81 . .19th (AIAW) ..... Dot Gunnells She captured third championships and three individual titles. 1981-82 . .Tie 16th (NCAA) . Dot Gunnells place at the NCAA In 2004-05, Katie Miller was selected to the All-ACC team while Ann . 12th (AIAW) ..... Dot Gunnells Championships Laney was selected an all-conference performer in 2005-06. 1983-84 . .12th (NCAA) ..... Dot Gunnells in 1989, the best Carolina finished 21st at the 2007 NCAA Championships after finishing 1988-89 . .8th (NCAA) . Dot Gunnells by a Carolina fourth at the ACC Tournament. Lauren Hunt, who picked up her first collegiate 1991-92 . .8th (NCAA) . Dot Gunnells women’s golfer win, was selected an All-ACC performer along with Katie Miller. 1992-93 . Tie 8th (NCAA) .... Dot Gunnells in that prestigious In 2007-08, the Tar Heels placed fifth at the ACC Championships and 19th 1993-94 . .16th (NCAA) ...... Sally Austin event. Andrews at the NCAA West Regional. Sydney Crane was an All-ACC performer. 1994-95 . .8th (NCAA) . Sally Austin later qualified for The 2008-09 squad finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, the 1997-98 .