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FRIPP ISLAND, S.C. \u2014 It was a moment so incredible to witness, where anyone who was in attendance would probably say, “You just had to be there.”<\/p>\n
Through 38\u00a0holes, two matches and a sudden-death playoff, top-seeded High Point University’s Anais Arafi<\/a> clinched a 3-2 victory over second-seeded UNC Asheville in the Big South Conference match play finals to crown the HPU women’s golf team champions for the first time in program history.<\/p>\n Head Coach Lyndsey Hunnell<\/a>: “I knew from the start of the year this team was special and capable of doing great things. They’ve worked all season for this moment, and from our very first team meeting, winning a conference championship was the goal. I’m so proud and honored to be their coach and to watch their hard work pay off. This is a day our program will never forget. Ana\u00efs was exactly who we needed in that moment. She’s one of the hardest workers on this team, and she showed it when it mattered most. Her composure in that playoff was incredible; she never gave anything away. I couldn’t be more proud of the way she handled it. That’s a moment she’s earned.”
\n\u00a0 Order of finish: How the Panthers Made History The sophomore was the lone Panther standing \u2014\u00a0following match wins from Makayla Grubb<\/a> (8&7) and Eva Lye<\/a> (1UP) \u2014 which put all eyes on Arafi to make history. And that it was as Arafi was down or tied for 21 holes until she had the last say on the Par 4, hole No. 4.<\/p>\n The lucky No. 22 hole came full circle when she was presented with the same shot she had earlier in the day \u2014 a tee shot to the right of the green and 40-plus yards from the pin \u2014 but this time it was perfect.<\/p>\n “I had the same shot this morning and I didn’t do quite well, so I had some extra pressure,” Arafi said. “But I just tried to do my best. I had like 40 yards, so I hit my 58 and I put it six-feet to the flag and I was really happy about that.”<\/p>\n Arafi chipped the ball onto the green 40 yards out, and then proceeded to sink the birdie\u00a0as\u00a0her team stormed the green and\u00a0the conference office presented High Point the trophy for the first time in program history.<\/p>\n It was a moment Arafi,\u00a0the Panthers, and everyone in attendance will never forget.<\/p>\n “I don’t even have the words to describe that,” Arafi said. “I didn’t want to let my team down, so I just fought until the end. It was just an amazing feeling to win and finally go to regionals with my team. I just love them. Everyone played really good, so I’m really proud of everyone. It is my second year at High Point, and I wouldn’t have done it differently. I love High Point. We are all like a big family, and I am just so grateful to have these people in my life. It means a lot.” The Panthers cruised to a 3-0 semifinal victory over Charleston Southern to jumpstart the championship day. It was the first time HPU advanced to the match play finals since Hunnell’s first year at the helm in 2023.
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\nSite: Fripp Island, S.C.
\nCourse: Ocean Creek Golf Course \u2013 Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort
\nPar\/Yardage: 72\/6032
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\nMatch Play Final
\n#1 High Point defeats #2 UNC Asheville, 3-2<\/p>\n
\nMatch 1 \u2013 Caroline Patterson (AVL) defeats Ella Perna<\/a> (HPU), 4&3 (AVL leads 1-0)
\nMatch 5 \u2013 Makayla Grubb<\/a> (HPU) defeats Lauren Madson (AVL), 8&7 (tied 1-1)
\nMatch 2 \u2013 Pennie Osterberg (AVL) defeats Anna Howerton<\/a> (HPU), 2&1 (AVL leads 2-1)
\nMatch 3 \u2013 Eva Lye<\/a> (HPU) defeats Jordyn Arts (AVL), 1UP (tied 2-2)
\nMatch 4 \u2013 Ana\u00efs Arafi (HPU) defeats Breanna Hoese (AVL), 22 holes (HPU wins 3-2)*
\n*Clinch<\/p>\n
\nOn her 38th hole of the day with sunset approaching, Arafi never wavered.<\/p>\n
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\nMatch Play Semifinal
\n#1 High Point defeats #4 Charleston Southern, 3-0
\nOrder of finish:
\nMatch 1 \u2013 Eva Lye<\/a> (HPU) defeats Summer Griffiths (CSU), 4&3 (HPU leads 1-0)
\nMatch 2 \u2013 Ana\u00efs Arafi (HPU) defeats Chayse Cool (CSU), 3&2 (HPU leads 2-0)
\nMatch 4 \u2013 Anna Howerton<\/a> (HPU) vs. IY Ibnu (CSU), 3&2 (HPU wins 3-0)*
\nMatch 3 \u2013 Katie Stephens (CSU) vs. Ella Perna<\/a> (HPU), 1UP thru 17, unfinished
\nMatch 5 \u2013 Makayla Grubb<\/a> (HPU) vs. Eugenie Varet (CSU), 1UP thru 15, unfinished
\n*Clinch<\/p>\n
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