The Wake Forest women’s golf team delivered an outstanding performance at the Moon Golf Invitational, securing a second-place finish against some of the nation’s top-ranked teams. Hosted by the University of Louisville at Suntree Country Club in Melbourne, Florida, the tournament saw the Deacs excel in their final round, finishing five under par to surpass No. 4 South Carolina.
Their strong showing marked an improvement from last year’s fifth-place finish, demonstrating their growing strength and consistency. Let’s take a closer look at how the team performed and the key highlights from the tournament.
Wake Forest’s Strong Final Round Performance
On the final day, Wake Forest posted their best score of the tournament, climbing past South Carolina and finishing just behind the eventual winner, No. 7 Florida State. The team excelled in par-four scoring, a crucial factor in securing their runner-up spot.
Junior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen played a pivotal role, shooting two under par for the tournament. Her impressive 13 birdies were the most by any Wake Forest player and the second-highest overall in the competition. This marks her first top-five finish of the season.
Standout Individual Performances
Anne-Sterre den Dunnen – Top 5 Finish
- Finished two under par overall.
- Scored the most birdies on the team (13).
- Achieved her first top-five finish of the season.
Chloe Kovelesky – Strong Debut Performance
- Freshman Chloe Kovelesky impressed in her first team event for Wake Forest.
- Finished tied for 6th place after a fantastic final round.
- Improved by five strokes from round one to round three.
Carolina Chacarra – Solid All-Around Play
- Senior Carolina Chacarra had a standout performance on day two, carding a bogey-free round.
- Finished with 42 pars, ranking third overall in that category.
- Ended the tournament tied for 14th place.
Sky Sload & Macy Pate – Impressive Comebacks
- Sky Sload jumped 26 spots after a stellar three-under-par final round.
- Macy Pate climbed 11 spots, closing out her tournament with her best round on Tuesday.
Coach’s Thoughts on the Performance
Head coach Kim Lewellen praised her team’s resilience, especially in challenging conditions:
“It was a great finish in our first tournament of the spring. The course was tough and windy, and playing the last two days at -8 as a team shows the talent and depth of this squad. Anne-Sterre had a top-five finish, and our new addition, Chloe Kovelesky, had an impressive performance. This team is looking strong.”
Tournament Leaderboard
Top 5 Teams
| Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | -2 | -1 | +1 | -2 |
| Wake Forest | +9 | -3 | -5 | +1 |
| South Carolina | +8 | -2 | -4 | +2 |
| Texas | +6 | +8 | -6 | +8 |
| Ole Miss | +4 | +7 | -1 | +10 |
Wake Forest’s Player Scores
| Player | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne-Sterre den Dunnen | +2 | -5 | +1 | -2 |
| Chloe Kovelesky | +2 | E | -3 | -1 |
| Carolina Chacarra | +1 | -2 | +2 | +1 |
| Sky Sload | +7 | +4 | -3 | +8 |
| Macy Pate | +4 | +6 | E | +10 |
What’s Next for Wake Forest?
The top-ranked Wake Forest squad now shifts its focus to the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, taking place from March 3-5 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Hosted by No. 2 South Carolina, this tournament will be another key challenge for the Deacs.
In 2022, Wake Forest dominated this event, winning both the team and individual titles for the second straight year. Carolina Chacarra, then a freshman, took home the individual championship.
The Deacs will look to continue their strong form and build on their impressive start to the spring season.
