Lauren Walsh and her Wake Forest women’s golf team won the 2019 East Lake Cup with a 4-1 victory over Auburn in the match play final during a rainy morning at East Lake Club. The victory was the Demon Deacons’ third win of the fall season and their first ever win in a match play event.
Walsh faced-pff against fellow Irish player Julie McCarthy and emerged as a 3&1 winner over the Swords golfer which added to victories from Siyun Liu, Emilia Migliaccio and Rachel Kuehn to capture the title at East Lake Club.
“I am so proud of this group of young ladies,” said head coach Kim Lewellen. “The resilience. The grit. All of those words you see on the front of self-motivation books. That’s what they have. They work hard and they’re smart too. They went out there and watched what their competitors were doing and they strategically played to win some holes, and I’m very proud of them.”
The Deacs took an early lead as Liu posted a dominating 5&4 win over Kaleigh Telfer. Migliaccio extended the lead with a 1-Up win over Megan Schofill, remaining undefeated in her collegiate match play career.
Walsh clinched the match as she completed her 3&1 win over Julie McCarthy. The match was tied through 14 holes before Walsh made three big putts to win 15, 16 and 17 to deliver the Deacons the title.
Kuehn was leading in her match to add one final point for the Deacs, while Auburn got a point as Brooke Sansom was leading Vanessa Knecht.
“You learn something new every single week that you’re with them,” said Lewellen. “We actually have a very young team. Vanessa [Knecht] came out and this was her best tournament that she’s had for us. She’s worked hard and she’s played hard. And to see that heart, I can’t wait to see what the spring brings with the way she finished. Not only that, but we have two freshmen who have played very well this semester and our upperclassmen that are doing well. We learned a lot through playing match play which will hopefully funnel into our [ACC and NCAA] Championships, which are also match play.”
The Demon Deacons conclude the fall season with three wins in five events, having also taken the titles at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate and the Lady Paladin Invitational. The three wins in the fall ties the school record set in 1994-95 when the Deacs won three times in the fall en route to a school-record five team victories on the year.
WAKE FOREST 4, AUBURN 1
Emilia Migliaccio (WF) def. Megan Schofill (Aub) 1UP
Siyun Liu (WF) def. Kaleigh Telfer (Aub) 5&4
Lauren Walsh (WF) def. Julie McCarthy (Aub) 3&1
Brooke Sansom (Aub) def. Vanessa Knecht (WF) 4&3
Rachel Kuehn (WF) def. Mychael O’Berry (Aub) 3&2
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