GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Headlined by a hot start, third-seeded Clemson claimed its first-ever title at the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Golf Championship, as the Tigers defeated fourth-seeded Virginia 3-1-1 Sunday afternoon at Sedgefield Country Club.

Clemson jumped out to an early start, leading four of the five matches through the front nine. Despite falling in the first match, the Tigers held onto leads in three matches to seal their first conference championship and the automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals.
 
Sophomore Melena Barrientos put Clemson on the scoreboard first, as she clinched her match with Virginia’s Celese Valinho, 3&2. Barrientos knocked in birdies on Hole No. 13 and Hole No. 16 to seal the match.
 
Virginia tallied its lone point when individual champion Amanda Sambach earned a come-from-behind win over Clemson’s Annabelle Pancake, 2&1. Sambach faced a 2-down deficit after eight holes, but bounced back and won three of the final four holes to give the Cavaliers the point.
 
Clemson claimed the title with back-to-back wins from Chloe Holder and Isabella Rawl. Holder held a 5-up lead entering the back-nine and sealed her match with a birdie on No. 15 to win 4&3. Rawl, who led throughout her entire match, outlasted a late rally from Virginia’s Megan Propeck, as her 1-up victory gave the Tigers the title.
 
Four ACC teams are ranked in the most recent Golfstat Top 25 rankings (April 11). No. 2 Wake Forest leads the way and is followed by No. 11 Florida State, No. 22 Virginia and No. 24 Clemson. In the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings (April 13), Wake Forest holds the top spot, Florida State is No. 10 and Virginia is No. 22.
 
The NCAA regionals are scheduled for May 8-10 with bids announced Wednesday, April 26 at 1 p.m. on Golf Channel.
 
2023 ACC Women’s Golf Championship – Match Play Final
#3 Clemson def. #4 Virginia, 3-1-1
Amanda Sambach (UVA) def. Annabelle Pancake (CLEM), 2&1
Melena Barrientos (CLEM) def. Celeste Valinho (UVA), 3&2
Isabella Rawl (CLEM) def. Megan Propeck (UVA), 1UP
Chloe Holder (CLEM) def. Rebecca Skoler (UVA), 4&3
Savannah Grewal (CLEM) tied Jennifer Cleary (UVA), unfinished at time match was clinched
Order of finish: 2, 1, 4, 3