The Women’s Golf Coaches Association has officially released its inaugural fall watchlists for Division I collegiate golf, highlighting the top-performing athletes and coaches across the country following the conclusion of the fall slate.
Virginia Players Enter Elite Rankings
- Virginia’s dominant fall campaign has vaulted Jaclyn LaHa and Zoe Cusack into elite territory for spring futures and individual player rankings.
- Watchlists feature programs like Auburn, Stanford, and Wake Forest represented across regional categories.
Ria Scott and the Virginia Cavaliers Set the Fall Standard
The WGCA announced its watchlists for the Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year Presented by Golf Pride, the PING WGCA Player of the Year, and the Freshman of the Year Presented by StrackaLine. According to virginiasports.com, Virginia head coach Ria Scott earned a spot on the coach of the year watchlist after guiding the Cavaliers to the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking at the conclusion of the fall season. Virginia captured three team titles across five fall tournaments, adding a pair of runner-up finishes without dropping outside the top six.
The Cavaliers’ historic fall was anchored by standout individual performances. Jaclyn LaHa, ranked No. 2 nationally by the NCAA, earned a spot on the PING WGCA Player of the Year watchlist after securing four top-five finishes and back-to-back victories at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational and the Windy City Collegiate Classic. LaHa logged nine rounds in the sixties over 14 rounds of play, maintaining a stellar 69.6 stroke average. Teammate Zoe Cusack joined LaHa on the Player of the Year watchlist and also secured a spot on the Freshman of the Year Presented by StrackaLine watchlist. Cusack posted three top-five finishes in her collegiate debut, never placing outside the top 14 while carding a 70.7 stroke average.
Regional Coaching Excellence Across Division I
The Jackie Steinmann National Coach of the Year watchlist spans four distinct regions, recognizing leaders who shaped collegiate athletics early in the academic year. The South Region features Melissa Luellen of Auburn University, Janice Olivencia of the University of Miami, Kory Henkes of the University of Mississippi, Kalen Anderson of the University of South Carolina, and Diana Cantu of the University of Tennessee.
Representing the East Region alongside Virginia’s Scott are Kim Lewellen of Wake Forest University, Dan Brooks of Duke University, Erika DeSanty of Princeton University, and Carol Robertson of Virginia Tech University. The Central Region highlights Laura Ianello of the University of Texas, Gerrod Chadwell of Texas A&M University, Shauna Taylor of the University of Arkansas, and Christie Martens of Iowa State University. Rounding out the West Region are Justin Silverstein of the University of Southern California, Anne Walker of Stanford University, Derek Radley of the University of Oregon, Missy Farr-Kaye of Arizona State University, and Alicia Um Holmes of the University of California, Los Angeles.
| Watchlist Category | Selected Athletes / Coaches | Key Represented Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| PING WGCA Player of the Year | Jaclyn LaHa, Zoe Cusack, Anna Davis, Rianne Malixi, Thanana Kotchasanmanee | Virginia, Auburn, Duke, Princeton |
| WGCA Freshman of the Year | Gia Raad, Mia Hammond, Manon Petitcolas, Celina Yeo, Zoe Cusack, Benedicte Brent-Petersen | Auburn, Duke, Alabama, Oregon, Virginia, Wake Forest |
| National Coach of the Year (East) | Ria Scott, Kim Lewellen, Dan Brooks, Erika DeSanty, Carol Robertson | Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, Princeton, Virginia Tech |
Watchlists Feature Talented Student Athletes
The PING WGCA Player of the Year watchlist brings together talented student-athletes. Alongside Virginia standouts LaHa and Cusack, the list features Anna Davis of Auburn University, Rianne Malixi of Duke University, Thanana Kotchasanmanee of Princeton University, Meja Örtengren of Stanford University, and Maria Jose Marin of the University of Arkansas. Texas is represented by Farah O’Keefe, while Virginia Tech contributes Valentine Delon. Wake Forest rounds out the elite grouping with Chloe Kovelesky and Macy Pate.
The Freshman of the Year watchlist features Gia Raad of Auburn, Mia Hammond of Duke, Manon Petitcolas of the University of Alabama, Celina Yeo of Oregon, Zoe Cusack of Virginia, and Benedicte Brent-Petersen of Wake Forest.
With the fall slate in the books, attention turns toward the spring championship season. The Cavaliers are scheduled to open their spring campaign on January 29-30, hosting the annual Collegiate Invitational at GCC in Guadalajara, Mexico, where these watchlist contenders will look to cement their postseason resumes.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
