The Richmond Spiders women’s golf team secured their second straight Atlantic 10 Women’s Golf Championship title on April 22, finishing with a commanding 28-stroke lead over runner-up Loyola Chicago. The event took place in Orlando, Florida, where the entire Richmond lineup finished ahead of nearly all competitors in the field during the three-round tournament.
The team’s performance highlights their recent success, as this marks their third conference championship in four years. Their run began with a victory at the 2023 Patriot League Championship.
“I told them this morning they were prepared and I believed in them and they were here for a reason,” said Spiders coach Calle Barlow. “We had some shaky spots, but they did really keep it together and kept making good choices.”
Junior Maya Beasley led Richmond by winning medalist honors with a total score of five-over par after rounds of 73, 72, and 76. It was her second individual win this season. “It just feels so awesome,” said Beasley. “We’ve been working all year for this one. The individual one is special, but the team one could not be more special. I’m just so happy for these girls. We’ve just put in so much work.” She added that sticking to their plan helped maintain focus: “On this golf course anything can happen, so just take it one shot at a time… We knew our targets and we committed to those.”
Senior Olivia Wilkie placed third individually while senior Hannah Lydic finished fourth; both achieved top-five finishes at conference championships before. Sophomore Katie Magner and freshman Addie Doroh tied for fifth place overall; Doroh also shared the Most Outstanding Rookie Award for low freshman at the tournament.
Barlow praised her seniors’ leadership: “My two seniors have been unbelievable… Good people, work hard, provide good examples for all the girls.” She also noted how each class contributed to the lineup’s depth: “It’s really cool to have somebody from each year of eligibility in this lineup… This team, four of them have been together for two of these championships.”
The Spiders will learn which NCAA Regional they will compete in during the NCAA Women’s Golf Selection Show scheduled for April 29 on Golf Channel.
