Bardwell Advances to NCAA Championship as Individual, Lady Vols Conclude Regionals

Wednesday, May 12

Simpsonville, KY | University of Louisville Golf Club

University of Tennessee

NCAA Regionals

Bardwell Advances to NCAA Championship as Individual, Lady Vols Conclude Regionals

May 12, 2021 | Women's Golf

Results (PDF)

SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – Tennessee junior Mikayla Bardwell advanced to the NCAA Championship as an individual on Wednesday, after shooting 6-under, 66, in the third round of NCAA Regional competition.

Bardwell becomes the sixth individual in Lady Vol program history to advance to the NCAA Championship round.

As a team, Tennessee's season came to a close after narrowly missing the cut line by three strokes and finishing just ten shots behind the Louisville Regional champions, Florida State.

"It was disappointing because we missed the cut line by so few shots and only lost the tournament by 10 shots," head coach Judi Pavon said. "We definitely had our chances, but it was great to still have a chance coming down the stretch.

"Mikayla was awesome today and finished off so well to advance as an individual. She gave the team a chance and it was really fun to watch her play today."

A native of Lewisville, Texas, Mikayla "Tex" Bardwell secured a spot in the NCAA Championship after posting a third round score of 6-under, 66, on Wednesday. It marked the second-lowest single round score of her career.

The junior was on a mission in round three, making four birdies and two eagles, including an eagle on the 503-yard, par-5 hole nine to end the day.

Bardwell concluded the Regional tied for second place individually with a three-day score of -3 (213). Additionally, she led the field in par-4 scoring at 8-under after 54 holes.

Micheala Williams-Luck concluded her exceptional Tennessee career on Wednesday. The graduate student with five years of experience for the Lady Vols finished the Regional in a tie for 27^th place at 5-over, 221. She was +3 (75) in the third round.

She holds the second-most career rounds of par or better in Tennessee program history, with 50. The program record is 51, held by Erica Popson.

Williams-Luck birdied the final hole of her career.

"I want to thank Micheala Williams-Luck for a great five years and for being such a great Lady Vol," Pavon said.

Freshman Vanessa Gilly wrapped up her first NCAA Regionals trip tied for 34^th at +7 (223). She shot 3-over, 75, in Wednesday's third round

Kayla Holden concluded her freshman campaign by shooting +2 (74) in round three. She tied for 63^rd overall, with a three-day score of +12 (228).

With this week marking her first NCAA postseason action, sophomore Nicole Whiston shot 2-over (74) on Wednesday to finish the Regional tied for 69^th place at 13-over, 229.

Individual Scores
T2. Mikayla Bardwell, -3 (72, 75, 66, 213)
T27. Micheala Williams-Luck, +5 (74, 72, 75, 221)
T34. Vanessa Gilly, +7 (75, 73, 75, 223)
T63. Kayla Holden, +12 (80, 74, 74, 228)
T69. Nicole Whiston, +13 (78, 77, 74, 229)

Team Scores
1. Florida State, +8 (286, 291, 295, 872)
T2. Texas, +11 (297, 287, 291, 875)
T2. UCLA, +11 (291, 295, 289, 875)
T4. Auburn, +14 (296, 296, 286, 878)
T4. Michigan State, +14 (292, 293, 293, 878)
T6. South Carolina, +15 (295, 286, 298, 879)
T6. Arkansas, +15 (299, 282, 298, 879)
T8. Texas Tech, +17 (301, 288, 292, 881)
T8. UCF, +17 (299, 289, 293, 881)
10. Tennessee, +18 (299, 294, 289, 882)
11. Louisville, +20 (293, 289, 302, 884)
12. North Florida, +28 (302, 287, 303, 892)
13. UTSA, +32 (303, 298, 295, 896)
14. Mercer, +33 (302, 287, 308, 897)
15. College of Charleston, +37 (305, 301, 295, 901)
16. James Madison, +39 (303, 291, 309, 903)
17. Xavier, +43 (306, 299, 302, 907)
18. Fairleigh Dickinson, +91 (314, 324, 317, 955)

Up Next
Mikayla Bardwell will compete at the NCAA Championship as an individual, beginning on Friday, May 21, at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.