Hogs in Florida for NCAA Regionals
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Arkansas women’s golf is set to play in the program’s 20th consecutive NCAA Regional, 21st in school history, as the Hogs tee off at PGA National Resort for the 2023 NCAA Palm Beach Gardens Regional Monday morning. The Hogs enter regionals as the No. 8 seed and will get play started at 7:55 a.m. CT from hole one. The regional is hosted by Florida Atlantic and the Palm Beach Sports Commission from May 8-10 for 54 holes of stroke play.
Out of the 12-team field and six individuals, the top five teams and low individual not on an advancing team will qualify for the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona from May 19-24.
Miriam Ayora leads the Hogs at the No. 1 spot for the fifth time this season. Ayora has a team’s most 10 rounds at par or under, 72 birdies and a 73.04 scoring average. The junior has improved her scoring average from the previous two seasons by over strokes and has played in all nine tournaments. Ayora’s best showing this season came at the MountainView Collegiate, in which she logged a career-low 7-under 209 (70-70-69) to finish in 11th place. She is coming off a tie for 43rd at the SEC Championship (75-78-76=229).
At the No. 2 spot, Kajal Mistry is one of two Hogs to appear in all nine tournaments. She is second on the team in rounds at par or under (9), birdies (69) and scoring average (73.85). A 2022 All-SEC First Team selection, Mistry has 100+ rounds of collegiate golf played under her belt. Mistry’s best performance this season came at the Moon Golf Invitational, where she logged an 8-under 208 (70-69-69) to place in the top five. At the SEC Championship, Mistry tied for 59th (76-77-83=236).
Julia Gregg also is set to play in her third NCAA Regional, doing so in the No. 3 spot. She has played in 17 rounds, while having four rounds at par or under. She has a 75.14 scoring average this season, while playing 89 career rounds. Gregg logged a six-over 222 (75-74-73) at the Blessings Collegiate to tie for ninth place on a challenging course. At the SEC Championship, Gregg improved her score each round to finish in a tie for 48th (79-76-75=230).
Back in the lineup, Ela Anacona will play in the No. 4 spot. The senior has played in four tournaments this season, beginning the year with a tie for 22nd at the Carmel Cup (73-77-74=224). Anacona has enjoyed success at NCAA Regionals, pacing the Hogs at the Ann Arbor Regional last year by tying for fifth with a 2-over 215 (69-73-73), which was huge in Arkansas qualifying for nationals. Coming in as a substitute at the SEC Championship, Anacona carded a 74 in the third round.
Freshman Reagan Zibilski rounds out the lineup at No. 5. She has played in six tournaments this season, while holding a 75.11 scoring average and earning four rounds at par or under. Zibilski carded a 1-over 145 (72-73) at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic to pace the Hogs with a tie for 14th. At the SEC Championship, Zibilski tied for 55th (79-81-73=233).
The Hogs have played in 21 NCAA Regionals, while qualifying for 11 NCAA Championships going into the program’s 29th year. Punching a ticket to nationals would mark Arkansas’ sixth appearance as a team in the last eight years, as well as 10th appearance under head coach Shauna Taylor.
ARKANSAS LINEUP
1. Miriam Ayora
2. Kajal Mistry
3. Julia Gregg
4. Ela Anacona
6. Reagan Zibilski
Alternate: Kendall Todd
COMPETING TEAMS BY SEED (GOLFSTAT RANKINGS)
- LSU (3)
- Texas (10)
- Northwestern (15)
- UCF (19)
- Duke (28)
- Michigan State (34)
- Cal (39)
- Arkansas (45)
- Alabama (49)
- South Florida (57)
- Penn (68)
- Quinnipiac (145)
Individuals: Christin Eisenbeiss (North Florida), Sara Byrne (Miami), Yanjun Liu (Princeton), Karissa Kilby (FIU), Leah Onosato (Old Dominion) and Katherine Lemke (Creighton)
COURSE
PGA National Resort – Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – Par 72 – 6,102 yards
TEE TIMES, CENTRAL TIME (HOLE 1)
7:55 a.m. – Reagan Zibilski
8:06 a.m. – Ela Anacona
9:17 a.m. – Julia Gregg
8:28 a.m. – Kajal Mistry
8:39 a.m. – Miriam Ayora
LIVE SCORING
UP NEXT
The Hogs will look to finish in the top five at regionals to qualify for the NCAA Championship set from Friday, May 19 to Wednesday, May 24 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
MORE INFORMATION
Keep up with all of the latest news and information and get behind the scenes looks into our program on our social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @RazorbackWGolf and check out our Facebook page “Razorback Women’s Golf.” Stats, news and player information can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
