The Tar Heels were outpointed by West Virginia, 197.05-196.725. Derek Galvin, the Tar Heels coach, was named EAGL Coach of the Year for the third time. Galvin is a Dublin native.
“I thought the only way one of these other teams could beat us was if we had to count any falls and [another team was] perfect,” Galvin said. As it turned out, UNC had to count one fall from the balance beam.
“We have two weeks to get ready for [NCAA] regionals, to polish our skills. We need to be consistent on balance beam and focus on sticking our landings on vault.”
The regionals are slated for Saturday, April 3 in Raleigh, N.C.
GOLF
Bethune-Cookman’s Maria Dunne cruised to a four-stroke victory in the North/South Women’s Collegiate at Jacksonville Beach Golf Course in Jacksonville, Fla. The sophomore from Skerries, Co. Dublin, shot 151 (76-75) for 36 holes. Teammate Shauna McVeigh, a sophomore from Co. Down, tied for 13th place at 164 (86-78). Bethune-Cookman took second place in the team scramble, behind Jacksonville.
Jacksonville State’s Sara Gallagher shared sixth place in the Chris Banister Classic at Silver Lakes Golf Club in Calhoun, Ala. The County Mayo sophomore shot 156 (77-79) for 36 holes, five strokes off the winning score. JSU won the team trophy, however.
High Point’s Jenna Kinnear, a freshman from Belfast, tied for 43rd place in the Shamrock Intercollegiate at Tega Cay Golf Course in Tega Cay, S.C. Kinnear shot 258 (89-86-83) for 54 holes. Mercer’s Ashley Harris shot the winning 229. High Point finished seventh among teams, with Coastal Carolina and East Tennessee State sharing the winner’s trophy.
Notre Dame’s Suzie Hayes tied for 41st place in the St. Croix Collegiate Classic at Carambola Golf Club in the Virgin Islands. Hayes, a sophomore from Dublin, shot 246 (76-82-88). The winning score of 226 was posted by Illinois State’s Samantha Richdale.
South Alabama’s Gareth Maybin tied for third place in the Carter Plantation Intercollegiate in Springfield, La. The junior from Ballydome, Co. Antrim, finished one over par at 217 (72-73-72). Lamar’s Chris Stroud was the low individual at 210. Southeastern Louisiana’s Mervyn Owens and Michael Mulryan were among a group tied for 23rd place at 227. Owens, a junior from Mallow, Co. Cork, carded rounds of 78, 77 and 72, while Mulryan, a freshman from Kiltulla, Oranmore, Co. Galway, shot 76, 78 and 73. Southeastern Louisiana won the team trophy. South Alabama tied for fifth place.
Toledo’s Richard Kilpatrick tied for 11th place in the Conrad Rehling Invitational at Ol’ Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The sophomore from Banbridge, Co. Down was hampered by a poor second round in which he shot 79. He finished three over par for the 54-hole event, carding rounds of 71 and 69 around the 79 for a total of 219. Kentucky’s John Holmes was the medallist at 209. Toledo?s Martin McTernan, a sophomore from Sligo, finished in 70th place at 243 (83-81-79). Alabama won the 13-team event, in which Toledo tied for fifth place.
East Tennessee State’s Noel Kavanagh tied for 64th place in the Hall of Fame Invitational at Red Stone Golf Club in Humble, Texas. The Westport, Co. Mayo, sophomore was 13 over par at 229 (74-79-76). ETSU placed 14th of 16 teams. Arizona’s Chris Nallen was the medallist at 202 and the Wildcats topped the team scramble.
SWIMMING
Florida finished sixth in the 400-meter freestyle relay at the NCAA Women’s Championships. Dublin senior Chantal Gibney handled the second leg for the Gators, which finished the race in 3:41.91. Georgia won the race in 3:35.14. The Gators took fourth place in the team standings, which was topped by Auburn.
The men take their turn in the pool this Thursday through Saturday, with NCAA titles on the line at the Goodwill Games Aquatic Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Tennessee’s Andrew Bree, from Helens Bay, Co. Down, and Kentucky’s Steven Manley, a Dubliner, are expected to compete. Details on tickets are available by calling (516) 773-5455.
TENNIS
North Carolina State’s Conor Taylor defeated a top-20 opponent for the second time in just over a week when he triumphed over Florida State’s Matt Cloer, 6-3, 6-4, at first singles. Taylor is a junior from Dublin. The Wolfpack lost to Florida State, 4-3.
San Diego, ranked 61st, upset No. 26 New Mexico, 5-2. The Toreros’ Emma Murphy, a Dublin sophomore, came through at second singles with a win over Iva Gersic, 6-4, 6-3.
California’s Catherine Lynch won a couple of matches at second singles last week. The Dublin senior dispatched Loyola Marymount’s Robyn Baker, 6-4, 6-2, then did likewise with Pepperdine’s Caroline Raba, 6-2, 6-3. The Golden Bears won both matches.
Winthrop’s Gary Kilduff posted two victories last week. The junior from Black Rock, Dublin defeated Charleston Southern’s Lebo Jacobs, 6-2, 6-2, at third singles, and Coastal Carolina’s Adam Alder, 7-6, 6-1, in the second position. Winthrop won both matches.
William & Mary’s Colin O’Brien teamed with Sean Kelleher to win a second doubles match over Oklahoma’s Tommy Garrison and Ondrej Fukala, 8-3. W&M won the match, 4-3. O’Brien, a freshman from Dublin, lost his match at fifth singles to Silviu Tanasoiu, 6-2, 7-6.
Pacific defeated Portland, 5-2, with Dublin freshman Alan Kelly providing the Tigers a victory at sixth singles. Kelly defeated Thabani Sithole, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Georgia Southern’s Ciara Finucane split four matches last week. The Dublin freshman was victorious over Centenary’s Christine Majchrowicz, 6-2, 6-3, and South Carolina State’s Vesna Popac, 6-1, 6-3. She lost to Southern Mississippi’s Nicola Slater, 6-2, 6-3, and Davidson’s Kelly Fillnow, 6-3, 6-2. All of Finucane’s matches were at first singles. Georgia Southern won three of the four matches, losing only to Davidson.