Friday, May 10
Maricopa, AZ
Jacksonville State University
at
National Golf Invitational
Heath Wins National Golf Invitational To Cap Historic Season
5/12/2024 9:05:00 PM | Women's Golf
MARICOPA, Ariz. – Jinger Heath capped a memorable freshman season with a memorable moment, winning the Golfweek National Golf Invitational (NGI) in dramatic fashion.
The true freshman from Decatur, Ala., sank a 30-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the first playoff hole on Sunday to edge UNCW's Victoria Levy. The winning putt sat on the lip of the cup for a second before finally dropping and giving Heath her second collegiate win and Jax State's first ever postseason golf victory.
The Gamecocks were one of 10 teams playing in the invitation-only NGI at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, a 54-hole tournament featuring the top teams just on the outside of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Heath won the event against a field of 52 players that featured just nine ranked higher than her in the national rankings coming in.
"This was an incredible opportunity for our team, and Jinger took full advantage," head coach Robbie Fields said. "I am amazed at her composure through a tough start, the pressure coming down the stretch, and especially during the playoff. For a freshman to step up like that, like she has all year, is special. I'm so excited for her to finish such a special season this way and I'm so proud of all she's accomplished so far."
Heath was steady, playing the par-72, 6,295-yard layout at 3-under over 54 holes. Her total score of 213 was just enough to get her into a playoff with Levy, and her long putt was what she needed to bring home the win in the Gamecocks' first postseason appearance since 2021.
"This was such a special way to end my freshman season," Heath said. "I wouldn't want to do it with any other team. I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent Jax State in the post season."
She opened play with a 2-under 70 on Friday, followed by an even-par 72 in Saturday's second round that had her tied for the lead with one round to play. Two bogeys in Heath's first four holes and three on her front nine didn't deter the true freshman. She rallied for three birdies over a bogey-free back nine that put her in position to make it to the playoff.
The win capped the best season by a freshman in Jax State history, one that saw Heath set a freshman scoring record with a 73.30 scoring average. That mark, the third-best scoring average in school history by any player, broke the freshman record of 74.65 set in 2020-21 by Berta Sanchez. She also moves into third all-time in career wins with two and did so by the end of her freshman campaign.
The Gamecocks finished seventh in what was an impressive 2023-24 season by a roster with four freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. They shot a three-day score of 901 in the NGI, capping a season scoring average of 297.61 that broke the previous school record of 299.03 set by the 2021-22 team.
The other true freshman in Fields' lineup claimed a top-20 finish, with Ashley Stevenson tying for 20th with a 54-hole score of 226. The native of Fontainebleau, France, carded rounds of 78-75-73, getting better each day, to climb into the top-20 finish. Her freshman season as also one for the record books, with a 74.27 scoring average that would've been the freshman record if not for Heath's big year.
Redshirt freshman Rachel Camp finished 33rd with a 54-hole score of 230. The native of Peachtree City, Ga., used rounds of 76-75-79 over the three-day tournament to wrap up her debut season on the links for the Gamecocks.
Sophomore Ebby Somers tied for 35th after rounds of 78-76-78 gave the Valdosta, Ga., native a three-day total of 230. Junior Paula Perez Cubinas rounded out the Jax State lineup with a 239, thanks to rounds of 81-77-81 for the Girona, Spain, native.
Rutgers won the event, one that featured eight teams ranked ahead of the 132nd-ranked Gamecocks and 10 teams that were all ranked in the top 150 in the nation. Invitations were sent out after the NCAA announced its regional field.
"What Lance Ringler and Golfweek have done with the NGI is awesome, and it gives good teams like ours the opportunity to compete in the postseason," Fields said. "We got to compete against some really good teams and it will be a benefit and prepare us for next season and future postseason appearances. I am really proud of this team and all we accomplished together this year. I'm excited and I believe in our future."
The true freshman from Decatur, Ala., sank a 30-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the first playoff hole on Sunday to edge UNCW's Victoria Levy. The winning putt sat on the lip of the cup for a second before finally dropping and giving Heath her second collegiate win and Jax State's first ever postseason golf victory.
The Gamecocks were one of 10 teams playing in the invitation-only NGI at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, a 54-hole tournament featuring the top teams just on the outside of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Heath won the event against a field of 52 players that featured just nine ranked higher than her in the national rankings coming in.
"This was an incredible opportunity for our team, and Jinger took full advantage," head coach Robbie Fields said. "I am amazed at her composure through a tough start, the pressure coming down the stretch, and especially during the playoff. For a freshman to step up like that, like she has all year, is special. I'm so excited for her to finish such a special season this way and I'm so proud of all she's accomplished so far."
Heath was steady, playing the par-72, 6,295-yard layout at 3-under over 54 holes. Her total score of 213 was just enough to get her into a playoff with Levy, and her long putt was what she needed to bring home the win in the Gamecocks' first postseason appearance since 2021.
"This was such a special way to end my freshman season," Heath said. "I wouldn't want to do it with any other team. I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent Jax State in the post season."
She opened play with a 2-under 70 on Friday, followed by an even-par 72 in Saturday's second round that had her tied for the lead with one round to play. Two bogeys in Heath's first four holes and three on her front nine didn't deter the true freshman. She rallied for three birdies over a bogey-free back nine that put her in position to make it to the playoff.
The win capped the best season by a freshman in Jax State history, one that saw Heath set a freshman scoring record with a 73.30 scoring average. That mark, the third-best scoring average in school history by any player, broke the freshman record of 74.65 set in 2020-21 by Berta Sanchez. She also moves into third all-time in career wins with two and did so by the end of her freshman campaign.
The Gamecocks finished seventh in what was an impressive 2023-24 season by a roster with four freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. They shot a three-day score of 901 in the NGI, capping a season scoring average of 297.61 that broke the previous school record of 299.03 set by the 2021-22 team.
The other true freshman in Fields' lineup claimed a top-20 finish, with Ashley Stevenson tying for 20th with a 54-hole score of 226. The native of Fontainebleau, France, carded rounds of 78-75-73, getting better each day, to climb into the top-20 finish. Her freshman season as also one for the record books, with a 74.27 scoring average that would've been the freshman record if not for Heath's big year.
Redshirt freshman Rachel Camp finished 33rd with a 54-hole score of 230. The native of Peachtree City, Ga., used rounds of 76-75-79 over the three-day tournament to wrap up her debut season on the links for the Gamecocks.
Sophomore Ebby Somers tied for 35th after rounds of 78-76-78 gave the Valdosta, Ga., native a three-day total of 230. Junior Paula Perez Cubinas rounded out the Jax State lineup with a 239, thanks to rounds of 81-77-81 for the Girona, Spain, native.
Rutgers won the event, one that featured eight teams ranked ahead of the 132nd-ranked Gamecocks and 10 teams that were all ranked in the top 150 in the nation. Invitations were sent out after the NCAA announced its regional field.
"What Lance Ringler and Golfweek have done with the NGI is awesome, and it gives good teams like ours the opportunity to compete in the postseason," Fields said. "We got to compete against some really good teams and it will be a benefit and prepare us for next season and future postseason appearances. I am really proud of this team and all we accomplished together this year. I'm excited and I believe in our future."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Sunday, May 17
Saturday, May 16
Wednesday, May 13
Sunday, May 10
