July 5, 2000

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -The Division I Women's Golf Committee has recommended to the NCAA Championships and Competition Cabinet, which meets in September, that the University of North Carolina be awarded the 2001 NCAA East Regional. The 54-hole event will be played May 10-12, 2001, at Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill and will feature 21 of the region's top teams.

"We're thrill to be hosting this prestigious tournament," says Tar Heel Head Coach Sally Austin. "The New Finley is a magnificent golf course and we hope all the competing teams will have a good experience playing on it. With the love that North Carolinians have for the sport, we also hope we'll be able to draw good crowds to support both the teams and the event."

Finley Golf Course re-opened in November 1999 after being closed for over a year. Finley is once again one of the premier college facilities in the nation after receiving a facelift that makes it one of the most challenging as well. Internationally renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio designed the New Finley Golf Course. It features a completely different layout, yet some of the best aspects of the old course were retained.

"This is an chance for us to showcase our golf course," says Director of Golf Johnny Cake. "This is a feather in our hat to be able to host the regional and maybe someday a national championship."

Finley Golf Course will also host the Franklin Street Trust Tar Heel Invitational, a fixture on the women's golf schedule. That 54-hole event will be played October 6-8.