Story Links
Charlottesville, VA When Golf World.com handed out its annual mid-season awards, the Virginia women’s program was on the receiving end of two honors. Ranked No. 14 in the Golf World/NGCA preseason standings, the Cavaliers finished the fall season No. 5 in the same poll. That feat earned Virginia the recognition as the “Biggest Surprise” among the nation’s women’s teams.
Virginia turned in a top-five finish in all five fall events playing some of the best team’s in the nation. The Cavaliers did it without a fully-healthy senior Lene Krog, who played in just nine rounds this fall due to injuries.
According to Golf World, the Cavaliers went 60-11 (.845) overall in head-to-head play and posted a 21-11 (.656) mark versus top-25 schools.
One of the reasons for UVa’s remarkable success was Whitney Neuhauser, who Golf World recognized as the Most Improved Women’s Player at midseason. Neuhauser led the team with a 72.08 stroke average, posted a pair of runner-up finishes and set the school scoring record with an 8-under 208 at the Cougar Classic. Coming into her junior season, she had just one top-10 finish in college play.
Neuhauser showed last summer she was on top of her game when she reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in August.
Here is a link to all of Golf World’s mid-season awards.