Women’s Golf Team Wins First Confrence Championship

By: Brandon Whitaker

The Radford Women’s golf team won their first Big South championship in school history on April 16. The team advanced to the match play portion of the tournament for the first time in program history. First, they faced High Point winning three to one. Freshmen Macy Johnson, Grace Addison and sophomore Shea Smith won their matches in round one. In round two of match play, the Highlanders faced Charleston Southern. Freshman Caroline Gilreath bounced back from her round one loss and won match two of the second round. Addison and Smith also won their matches with Smith sinking the last putt in match three to secure the win. 

Shea Smith had this to say about what this championship means to her and her team: “We have just worked so hard for this. Our team loves each other beyond words. I don’t think you could find a team that cares about each other more than we do. It is just so amazing to be able to share it with these people.” In addition to the championship, Macy Johnson received first team all-conference honors and Big South’s Scholar Athlete of the Year. 

This marks the first championship for Head Coach Jeff Beeler who has been coaching the Highlanders on the links since 2008. Coach Beeler shared his thoughts on the team and the win, 

“This is my 17th year, I always envisioned it, but didn’t know if it was truly possible. I had a hunch that this team could eventually get it done but for them to do it this soon is quite incredible…I do not believe in underdogs, but if there was such a thing as an underdog, we were it and I just told the girls hey, you have nothing to lose, just go for it.”