Illinois women’s golf hits the road to Charlottesville, Virginia, for the 2024 Cavalier Regional Preview. The tournament will occur from Monday, Sept. 23, to Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the esteemed Birdwood Golf Course.
The course is known for its pristine greens and fairways. Voted best in Virginia by Golf Digest, it should be an exciting course for all the participating teams to play on this week.
Overall, this course spans nearly an acre. The layout is designed as a par 71 and measures 6,320 yards. It was created by the renowned PGA professional Davis Love III, alongside his brother Mark Love and course architect Scot Sherman.
The unique design draws inspiration from courses around the globe. The team frequently referenced the work of Seth Raynor and his mentor, C.B. Macdonald, as models for the holes.
The tournament will follow a 54-hole layout. It’s a bright and early start on Monday morning, with tee times at 7:30 a.m. to begin on 36 holes. Next, it continues into Tuesday at 7 a.m. to play the remaining 18 holes.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
The event will have 12 teams, including Charlotte, Georgetown, Iowa, James Madison, Maryland, NC State, North Carolina, Penn State, Richmond, Tennessee and the host team, Virginia. There will be 71 players competing in this tournament.
Illinois will rely on a talented lineup led by junior Victoria Zheng, who had a strong sophomore year with a a72.4 stroke average. Zheng, alongside junior Anna Ritter, senior Lexanne Halama, sophomore Yurang Li and junior Brielle Mapanao, form a team with great potential to take on this course.
Mapanao, a transfer from Western Carolina, brings impressive credentials to the team. Last season, she earned a spot on the All-Southern Conference Team after shattering both the program’s and her personal single-season scoring record. She finished with an average of 73.63 over 30 rounds. Her experience and skill will be invaluable as Illinois takes on the challenges of the course.
This marks a new chapter for the Illini as they make their first appearance at the Cavalier Regional Preview. They are eager to make a strong impression at this prestigious tournament, hoping to set the stage for future successes.
@mattisonleskis
