WGCA All-American Scholars Features All Five UVA Starters

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – All five starters on the Virginia women’s golf team were named 2021 Women’s Golf Coaches Association Scholars today (July 6). That group is comprised of senior Beth Lillie (Fullerton, Calif.), junior Riley Smyth (Cary, N.C.), sophomores Virginia Bossi (Como, Italy) and Celeste Valinho (Jacksonville, Fla.) and freshman Jennifer Cleary (Wilmington, Del.).

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team is a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50. Previously, all five players had been named to the All-ACC Academic team.

Lillie’s selection marked the fourth time during her career she has received the honor. Smyth received the recognition for the third time and it was the second time Bossi was recognized.

Lillie finished ninth at the NCAA Championships and was named an honorable mention All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. Lillie’s 72.77 stroke average led UVA this season. She was the team’s top finisher in three of the Cavaliers’ tournaments this season including a third-place performance in the season-opening UCF Challenge and a victory in the three-team Match at Spring Creek.

Smyth was second on the team with a 73.27 stroke average and had four top-10 showings. Cleary had three top-10 outings and led the team in scoring twice as a freshman. Bossi posted a 74.55 stroke average while Valinho’s was 74.64.