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JUNE 2023 27 Championships, James posted a remarkable 10 top-four finishes in 12 tournaments. At the NCAA Regional in Las Vegas, James matched his season-opening score, shooting 20-under 196 to share medalist honors. That was the best performance ever by a Cavalier at a regional site. "We've had some great players here," said UVA coach Bowen Sargent, who is in his 19th year directing the men's program. "Denny Mc- Carthy, Ben Kohles, Jimmy Stanger. They're all playing professional golf, and none of those guys accomplished what Ben has. "We knew, coming in, he had the ability to maybe do something like this. But to predict it in the first year, I don't think anybody re- ally expected that to happen. Just the wins he has this year, that would be amazing for an entire career, much less what he has done in two semesters." The practice habits of his first-year player are what sets James apart, according to Sargent. "He comes here every day with a plan," Sargent said. "I mean, he literally practices like a tour professional. And I haven't had a guy ever come here as focused as he comes every day to practice. "He knows what he wants to achieve. He knows what he wants to accomplish." James says that approach is very deliberate. "I come here [to the UVA golf facility] with a plan every day and just keep myself ac- countable," he said. "Being organized is big. I keep myself really accountable. I have to do a couple certain things every day. "There can't be any distractions or any other things that get in my way during my practice time." If you think the Virginia women's coach would say the same thing about Sambach, you're right. "Amanda's putting and short game have improved greatly since last fall," Ria Scott said. "Even at the ANNIKA, I wouldn't say her chip- ping was exceptional at the time, but she's really elevated her short game and putting. "This year, she's become a better practice player, a more focused practice player." Sambach credits a new driver and putter in her bag as difference-makers. Her ball striking has improved, and she is playing more second shots from the fairway instead of the rough. "I've been hitting a ton of fairways this spring," Sambach said. "That makes me hit more greens, which is really important for me because my chipping has never been that great. But I agree that my chipping has defi- nitely gotten a lot better. That's given me more variety around the greens, hitting different kinds of shots." Nowhere was that more evident than at the ACC Championships, where Sambach set both the ACC and UVA scoring records by finish- ing at 14-under 202 at Greensboro's Sedgefield Country Club. She then went out and shot 13-under 203 to become co-medalist at the NCAA Regional in Westfield, Ind. The win at Sedgefield was espe- cially meaningful on a challenging Donald Ross-designed course. "They play a PGA Tour event there, so winning there and setting a scoring record was really cool," Sam- bach said. What will be cool for both James and Sam- bach this summer will be playing for the U.S. teams at the Palmer Cup. The top six picks for both the men's and women's squads are based on a rankings metric. The final six slots come down to coaches' selections. Even after her win at the ACC Champion- ships, Sambach was on pins and needles the day the selections were announced. "All year, I kind of stalked those rankings," Sambach said. "I really didn't think I had a shot, even after I won the ACC. I knew it was going to be close. When I got that phone call and was told I was on the team, I was shaking the rest of the day. I cannot believe it. But I'm so excited." Sambach and James could even compete together since a mixed foursome is part of the event's format. James competed on several national squads as a junior golfer and appre- ciates the chance to represent his country. "The Palmer Cup is one of the highest honors that you could have," he said. "To represent your country anywhere is a pretty big honor and I know when I put on that shirt with my country on it, my heart will be beating pretty hard that day. "It's just cool to have that dynamic of both of us being there, and maybe we'll be partners. Who knows, but it would be a lot of fun." Sambach, a second-year, won the ANNIKA Intercol- legiate to start the fall season. More recently, she won the ACC indi- vidual championship with a school-record 14-under and tied for first in the NCAA Westfield Regional. (Photo courtesy UVA)