INDIANAPOLIS – The 2024 Sunshine State Conference women's golf champion #15 Saint Leo University women's golf team is heading to the regional tournament as the 12-team field was announced on Monday afternoon. The Lions earned the SSC's automatic bid after a conference championship win earlier this month. The South Regional tournament is being hosted by Lee University at the Cleveland Country Club in Cleveland, Tenn. May 6-8. 

Saint Leo advances as a team to the regional for the first time since 2022. The Lions finished in a tie for fifth and just missed out on the final national championship berth as they were defeated by Barry in an aggregate playoff on No. 18.

The Lions took part in 11 tournaments in 2023-24, finishing first at the SMSU Classic in March and the SSC championship earlier this month. Saint Leo also had two top three finishes with a second-place finish at the NCAA Championship Fall Preview in October and a third-place finish to close out the 2024 regular season at the Lady Moc Classic 2.0.

Individually, the Lions took home the individual title three times.  Olivia Deakins captured her first collegiate win with a first-place finish at the DBU Classic to open the 2023-24 season in the fall. Elena Verticchio took home her first collegiate title after carding a -1 at the SMSU Spring Classic. Most recently, Maya Cote cruised to a first-place finish at the 2024 SSC championship. Making her just the second Lion to win an SSC individual title (Marie Coors, 2014 & 2016).

The South regional 12-team field features seven teams in the top-15 in #2 Flagler, #3 Nova Southeastern, #6 Anderson, #8 Rollins, #10 Barry, #11 Lynn, and #15 Saint Leo.

The Sunshine State Conference's five teams selected to the regional is the most of the five conferences in the South region. Saint Leo, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, Barry, and Lynn will all represent the SSC next week.

Joining Saint Leo as conference champions are Flagler (Peach Belt Conference), Anderson (South Atlantic Conference), West Florida (Gulf South Conference), and North Greenville (Conference Carolinas).

South Regional
Cleveland Country Club
Cleveland, Tenn.
Host: Lee University
 
Teams:
1. Flagler [Peach Belt Conference]
2. Nova Southeastern
3. Anderson (South Carolina) [South Atlantic Conference]
4. Rollins
5. Barry
6. Lynn
7. Lee
8. Saint Leo [Sunshine State Conference]
9. Wingate
10. Limestone
11. West Florida [Golf South Conference]
12. North Greenville [Conference Carolinas]
 
Individuals:
1. Ana Maria Jimenez Rios, University of Tampa
2. Sandra Eriksson, Eckerd
3. Lauren Martin, Lincoln Memorial
4. Charlotte Colley, Lenoir-Rhyne
5. Kajsa Lindqvist, Lander
6. Josefine Winkle, Lander
 
The regional tournament is set to begin on Monday, May 6 at the Cleveland Country Club in Cleveland, Tenn. The top five team and two individuals not on advancing teams will advance to the championships. Tee times and pairings will be announced later in the week prior to the start of the regional.