News Summary
The Coastal Carolina University women’s golf team has made headlines as three of its student-athletes have been named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team. Freshmen Aoife Devaney and Ella Murray, along with senior Carolina Hortian, achieved this honor, showcasing their dedication to both academics and athletics. The team also secured competitive success at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge and saw outstanding individual performances throughout the season, solidifying their commitment to excellence on and off the golf course.
Conway, South Carolina – The Coastal Carolina University women’s golf team has achieved significant recognition in the 2024-25 season, with three student-athletes named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team. Freshmen Aoife Devaney and Ella Murray, along with senior Carolina Hortian, earned this prestigious honor, contributing to the university’s history of academic excellence in collegiate golf.
A total of 1,499 women’s collegiate golfers from 403 programs nationwide were recognized as WGCA All-America Scholars this year. To qualify for this accolade, student-athletes must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50, compete in at least 50% of their team’s scheduled rounds, and remain an amateur through the conclusion of the season.
Since 2004, Coastal Carolina has had 69 student-athletes earn the WGCA All-American Scholar distinction. The university’s peak for honorees in a single season is five, a record achieved in both 2013 and 2017. This recognition further underscores the athletes’ commitment to balancing academics and athletics.
In addition to their academic achievements, the women’s golf team also enjoyed competitive success during the season. They won the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge held at Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The Chanticleers finished first after three rounds, recording a total score of 855 with daily scores of 286, 283, and 286.
Freshman Ella Murray played a pivotal role in this victory, finishing fourth in individual standings with scores of 74, 70, and 68, which resulted in a total of -1 for the tournament. Senior competitor Carolina Hortian and fellow teammate Varatkarn Kunkaew both tied for eighth place at three-over par, while Sara Sarrion finished strong in fifth place at even-par.
Middle Tennessee and Akron followed the Chanticleers in the tournament, finishing second and third with scores of 861 (+9) and 870 (+18), respectively. The impressive performance by Coastal Carolina highlighted both their teamwork and individual skills on the golf course.
The season for the Chanticleers concluded at the Sun Belt Conference Championship held in Point Clear, Alabama, from April 14-17, 2025. Despite a strong effort, Coastal Carolina fell in the semifinal match against Southern Miss with a close score of 3-2.
In the semifinal match, two of the Chanticleers’ players secured victories: Sara Sarrion and Varatkarn Kunkaew, who both triumphed over their Southern Miss opponents. However, Ella Murray and Aoife Devaney faced difficulties in their respective matches, losing to their adversaries by three and four shots. Carolina Hortian, narrowly missing out on victory, lost her match to Taylor Trible by just two shots.
Highlighting her excellence on the course, senior Sara Sarrion was named to the All-Sun Belt second team, a recognition she earned by participating in all ten events of the season and maintaining an impressive stroke average of 73.5. Sarrion’s performance placed her seventh in scoring average for a single season in Coastal Carolina program history. One of her top finishes this season was a third place showing at the Tot Hill Farm Invitational, where she showcased her skill amidst a competitive field of 62 players.
Sarrion’s previous accomplishments include being named to the second team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022 during her freshman year, affirming her capabilities and the legacy she has built during her collegiate career.
The achievements of the Coastal Carolina women’s golf team highlight not only their dedication on the golf course but also their commitment to academic excellence, reflecting the values of the university and its student-athletes.
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Additional Resources
- Goccusports: Three Chants Named WGCA All-America Scholars
- WMBF News: Coastal Carolina Women’s Golf Dominates Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge
- Goccusports: Women’s Golf Season Ends in Semifinals of Sun Belt Tournament
- Google Search: Coastal Carolina women’s golf
- Goccusports: Sara Sarrion Named Second Team All-Sun Belt
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
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