SILVIS, IL – The remarkable run of success continues for the UBC Thunderbirds Women's Golf Program. Friday afternoon in Silvis, Illinois at the legendary TPC Deere Run golf course, the 'Birds captured their second consecutive (and seventh ever) NAIA Women's Golf national championship banner. During Friday's final round, the group of Sonja Tang, Una Chou, Grace Bell and Elizabeth Labbe combined for a score of +12, helping them secure an emphatic 29 shot victory over Keiser University. UBC finished the event with a four-round total of +63.
OVERALL TEAM STANDINGS
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
The top individual finisher during UBC's impressive week at TPC Deere Run was the reigning Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, Sonja Tang. Tang fired a +3 round on Friday to finish with a four-day score of +15. She finished the tournament in a three-way tie for fourth place overall - five shots back of Oklahoma City's MaKayla Tyrell who captured individual honours with a four-round total of +10.
Teammate Una Chou was hot on Tang's heels. Her four-round total score of +16 put her in a two-way tie for seventh in the overall standings.
Up next for UBC was Grace Bell who carded a Friday score of +5 to help her finish tied in a three-way tie for ninth overall.
The top score of Day 4 for UBC and the entire field belonged to Elizabeth Labbe. The lefty notched a team-leading four birdies en route to a -1 (70) score. She finished the tournament at +21 and in a two-way tie for 12
th.
Jessica Ng and Bo Brown also factored in to UBC's success during the four-day event. After playing the first three rounds of the tournament, Ng sat out Day 4 in favour of Brown. Brown's lone round of the week was a +11.
At the conclusion of the event, Chris MacDonald was named NAIA Women's Golf Coach of the Year. Earlier this week he also received NAIA Men's Golf Coach of the Year honours.
The UBC Thunderbirds women came into the 2023 NAIA Nationals with a giant target on their backs. Chris MacDonald's crew was the #1 nationally ranked team for the entire year, and deservedly so. They had won 27 of their previous 30 appearances dating back to the 2020-21 season and they knew that there would be plenty of extra pressure attached to this week's play at an unfamiliar golf course to all of the competitors. But any nerves were quashed quickly after they fired a +9 combined score (293) on Day 1 to take a four-shot lead. Rookie Jessica Ng led the way Tuesday with a score of even par.
You don't win a national championship without conquering adversity, and the blue and gold experienced plenty of it during Day 2. The 'Birds struggled and combined to shoot +28 with only five total birdies on the day, which put them one shot back of first place at +37 halfway through the competition.
UBC found their form across the board during Day 3 and finished nine shots better than any other school. Una Chou's four birdies on Thursday helped vault the 'Birds to a 15-shot lead heading into Friday's final round.
While UBC carded only five total birdies during Day 4, their group of five recorded 63 total pars, showcasing a consistency that has been a major 'calling card' for the program in recent years.
The reigning UBC DuVivier Team of the Year Co-Winners have now finished first in 28 of their previous 31 appearances dating back to the 2020-21 season.
Next up for UBC – A trip to Komoka, Ontario and the FireRock Golf Cllub. Beginning Tuesday out East, the UBC men and women will wrap up their terrific 2022-23 golf seasons by repeating as the Gold Canada Canadian University champions. The four-day tournament runs Tuesday through Friday.
Learn more here.