Five Hoos Honored as WGCA All-American Scholars

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Five members of the Virginia women’s golf team were named 2023 Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars today (July 6). That group is comprised of graduate student Riley Smyth (Cary, N.C.), senior Celeste Valinho (Jacksonville, Fla.), juniors Jennifer Cleary (Wilmington, Del.) and Rebecca Skoler (Needham, Mass.) and sophomore Megan Propeck (Leawood, Kans.). All four players had previously been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s All-ACC Academic Team.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team is a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 and to have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s competitive rounds.

Smyth’ selection marked the fifth time during her career she has received the honor. Valinho and Cleary were recognized for the third time while Skoler and Propeck were first-time honorees.

Cleary was UVA’s top finisher in three events highlighted by a fifth-place showing at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate. In her first competitive season, Propeck appeared in all 10 tournaments and posted a 74.11 stroke average. Later this summer she will compete in the Women’s U.S. Open.

Skoler was the recipient of UVA’s Distinguished Student-Athlete Scholarship Award at annual all-sports awards program and one of the athletic department’s recipients of ACC Top Six for Service Award. Smyth played in 39 tournaments during her career and helped the Cavaliers finish 24th at this year’s NCAA Championships. Valinho was second on the team in stroke average (73.42) and posted three top-15 finishes during the season.

All four players contributed to UVA’s success at the NCAA Championships where the Cavaliers finished 24th overall.