If first-time guests were to leave Yelp reviews of Charlottesville’s Birdwood Golf Course this week, Amanda Sambach has a good sense of what they might look like.
The University of Virginia senior golfer heard similar commentary from her competitors throughout the three-day NCAA Regional tournament played on UVA’s home course.
The Cavaliers hosted the event for the first time in program history.
“It feels awesome to have everyone else come up to me and be like, ‘Wow, you get to play here and practice here? It’s amazing,’” Sambach said Wednesday. “And to be able to represent this place with so much pride, it means everything, and it makes us more grateful for what we have.”
Sambach and the Cavaliers finished in a tie for third place in the 12-team tournament, as the top five teams advanced to next week’s NCAA Championships at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The Hoos have now advanced out of an NCAA Regional 15 times in their 22 years as a program.
This one was just a little more special, said coach Ria Scott.
“Boar’s Head, Birdwood and the UVA staff really put on a spectacular championship, and I’m hearing it from officials, teams that are here,” Scott said, “and we’re so proud of the event and so proud to showcase this as our home.”
A number of familiar faces came out to support the Hoos, including UVA football coach Tony Elliott and former men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett.
Tony ² at Birdwood!
Thankful for Hoos supporting Hoos at the Charlottesville regional! @UVAFootball x @UVAMensHoops #GoHoos | pic.twitter.com/hEzTbfEa8R— Virginia Women's Golf (@UVAWomensGolf) May 7, 2025
Senior Megan Propeck, who finished fourth among the individual players, led UVA, which tied with the University of Florida and finished behind the University of Mississipi and the University of South Carolina on the final leaderboard. Sambach, a two-time All-American, finished 23rd.
UVA Today senior photographer Matt Riley was on hand to capture the action.
