University of Georgia Athletics
Sunday, April 3
UGA Golf Course / Athens, Ga.
All Day
University of Georgia
1
vs
5
Virginia
Photo by: Tony Walsh
Bulldogs Fall To Cavaliers, 5-1
April 03, 2022 | Women's Golf
Dao earns Georgia's victory with birdie at No. 18
ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 8-ranked Virginia women's golf team defeated No. 27 Georgia, 5-1, in a match play competition at the UGA Golf Course on Sunday.
After the Bulldogs grabbed early leads in five of six matches, the Cavaliers rallied. Both teams led in three matches at the turn before Virginia surged ahead on the back nine.
Céleste Dao earned Georgia's victory, a 1-up decision over Celeste Valinho. Although she never trailed, Dao played all 18 holes before securing her win.
"I stayed calm and patient the whole time," Dao said. "My game was good. I was solid off the tee and solid with my approaches. I was pretty happy with the day."
Dao grabbed the lead by winning No. 1 and pushed her advantage to 2-up soon thereafter. She maintained that edge through the turn.
"The first three holes are super critical, especially at UGA because they're hard holes," Dao said.
Valinho knotted the match by winning No. 12 and No. 16.
"Her putter woke up on the back nine, and she started draining putts, great putts," Dao said. "It got close over the last four holes because she really started to sink putts. On 16, she made a 30-footer to tie the match."
After halving No. 17, Dao captured the victory with a 14-foot birdie at No. 18.
Sunday was Georgia's first match play event of the season, although the Bulldogs are hoping to advance to the match play portions of the SEC and NCAA Championships during the postseason.
"We were trying to use this to build a little team unity today," head coach Josh Brewer said. "Usually, only five people play and it's over two or three days at a tournament with multiple schools. Today, everyone was involved, and it was nice. You had six singles matches. The players who didn't play, a couple of them coached and a couple of them covered it for the media. It was a great experience overall."
Seniors and Jenny Bae and Jo Hua Hung served as the Bulldogs' coaches for the day. Caroline Craig and Isabella Holpfer, who both are part of UGA's Carmichal Sports Media Institute, assisted with updates on matches across the course.
Sunday completed the Bulldogs' regular-season slate. Georgia will open play in the SEC Championships on Wednesday, April 13 at Greystone Golf and Country Club outside Birmingham, Ala. The Bulldogs have won a league-leading 11 SEC team titles in women's golf, while eight Georgia golfers have claimed SEC individual crowns.
The SECs will feature 54 holes of stroke play qualifying, which will also determine the tournament's individual medalist. The top-8 teams from stroke play will advance to a bracketed match play competition, with quarterfinals and semifinals on April 16 and the final on April 17. The SEC Championship match will be televised live by the SEC Network from 8:30-1:00.
Virginia 5, Georgia 1
Sunday, April 3, 2022
UGA Golf Course
Agate Results
Match 1 - Riley Smyth (UVA) def. Alison Crenshaw (UGA), 4-and-3
Match 2 - Rebecca Skoler (UVA) def. Zoë Walker (UGA), 1-up
Match 3 - Beth Lillie (UVA) def. Candice Mahé (UGA), 2-up
Match 4 - Céleste Dao (UGA) def. Celeste Valinho (UVA), 1-up
Match 5 - Jennifer Cleary (UVA) def. Caterina Don (UGA), 5-and-3
Match 6 - Amanda Sambach (UVA) def. LoraLie Cowart (UGA), 2-up
After the Bulldogs grabbed early leads in five of six matches, the Cavaliers rallied. Both teams led in three matches at the turn before Virginia surged ahead on the back nine.
Céleste Dao earned Georgia's victory, a 1-up decision over Celeste Valinho. Although she never trailed, Dao played all 18 holes before securing her win.
"I stayed calm and patient the whole time," Dao said. "My game was good. I was solid off the tee and solid with my approaches. I was pretty happy with the day."
Dao grabbed the lead by winning No. 1 and pushed her advantage to 2-up soon thereafter. She maintained that edge through the turn.
"The first three holes are super critical, especially at UGA because they're hard holes," Dao said.
Valinho knotted the match by winning No. 12 and No. 16.
"Her putter woke up on the back nine, and she started draining putts, great putts," Dao said. "It got close over the last four holes because she really started to sink putts. On 16, she made a 30-footer to tie the match."
After halving No. 17, Dao captured the victory with a 14-foot birdie at No. 18.
Sunday was Georgia's first match play event of the season, although the Bulldogs are hoping to advance to the match play portions of the SEC and NCAA Championships during the postseason.
"We were trying to use this to build a little team unity today," head coach Josh Brewer said. "Usually, only five people play and it's over two or three days at a tournament with multiple schools. Today, everyone was involved, and it was nice. You had six singles matches. The players who didn't play, a couple of them coached and a couple of them covered it for the media. It was a great experience overall."
Seniors and Jenny Bae and Jo Hua Hung served as the Bulldogs' coaches for the day. Caroline Craig and Isabella Holpfer, who both are part of UGA's Carmichal Sports Media Institute, assisted with updates on matches across the course.
Sunday completed the Bulldogs' regular-season slate. Georgia will open play in the SEC Championships on Wednesday, April 13 at Greystone Golf and Country Club outside Birmingham, Ala. The Bulldogs have won a league-leading 11 SEC team titles in women's golf, while eight Georgia golfers have claimed SEC individual crowns.
The SECs will feature 54 holes of stroke play qualifying, which will also determine the tournament's individual medalist. The top-8 teams from stroke play will advance to a bracketed match play competition, with quarterfinals and semifinals on April 16 and the final on April 17. The SEC Championship match will be televised live by the SEC Network from 8:30-1:00.
Virginia 5, Georgia 1
Sunday, April 3, 2022
UGA Golf Course
Agate Results
Match 1 - Riley Smyth (UVA) def. Alison Crenshaw (UGA), 4-and-3
Match 2 - Rebecca Skoler (UVA) def. Zoë Walker (UGA), 1-up
Match 3 - Beth Lillie (UVA) def. Candice Mahé (UGA), 2-up
Match 4 - Céleste Dao (UGA) def. Celeste Valinho (UVA), 1-up
Match 5 - Jennifer Cleary (UVA) def. Caterina Don (UGA), 5-and-3
Match 6 - Amanda Sambach (UVA) def. LoraLie Cowart (UGA), 2-up
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Women's Golf - Coach Brennan and Coach Stevens Feature
Monday, April 28
Georgia Women's Golf - Lady Bulldog Invitational Highligths
Saturday, January 25
Georgia Women's Golf - NCAA Regionals Round Two Recap
Tuesday, May 07
Georgia Women's Golf - NCAA Regionals Round One Recap
Monday, May 06