GREENVILLE, S.C. – The women's golf coaches have picked Erskine College as champions in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Golf Preseason Poll, the conference office announced on Thursday.
The defending champion Flying Fleet earned 121 points and 11 first place votes to sit atop the poll ahead of Emmanuel University. The Lions received the final first place vote and 110 points while the University of Mount Olive came in third with 101 points. Belmont Abbey College (80) and UNC Pembroke (69) rounded out the top five.
Barton College (68), North Greenville University (63), Converse University (56), Young Harris College (44), Southern Wesleyan University (37), Shorter University (23) and King University (20) concluded the poll.
The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Golf Championship will take place at Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, South Carolina from Sunday, April 12-Tuesday, April 14.
2026 Conference Carolinas
Women's Golf Preseason Poll
|
School |
Votes (first place) |
| 1 |
Erskine |
121 (11) |
| 2 |
Emmanuel |
110 (1) |
| 3 |
Mount Olive |
101 |
| 4 |
Belmont Abbey |
80 |
| 5 |
UNC Pembroke |
69 |
| 6 |
Barton |
68 |
| 7 |
North Greenville |
63 |
| 8 |
Converse |
56 |
| 9 |
Young Harris |
44 |
| 10 |
Southern Wesleyan |
37 |
| 11 |
Shorter |
23 |
| 12 |
King |
20 |
2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Golf
Players to Watch
Barton
- Terra Schmitt, Jr., Wake Forest, N.C., 2024-25 All-Conference Carolinas honoree
- Shelby Herbert, So., Charlotte Hall, Md., 2024-25 All-Conference Carolinas honoree
- Mackenzie Crossman, So., Pittsboro, N.C.
Belmont Abbey
- Ella Wiklander, Jr., Ludvika, Sweden
- Katie Cullen, Jr., Uxbridge, Massachusetts
- Lilianna Carcel, Jr., Asheville, North Carolina
Converse
- Ellie Lim, Jr., Delaware, Ohio (2025 Conference Carolinas all-tournament team)
- Avery Smith, Fr., Summerville, South Carolina
- Lilly Bowman, Fr., Hickory, North Carolina
Emmanuel
- Aurora Castelli, So., San Donato Milanese, Italy
- Alba Caliz-Rejas, Fr., Madrid, Spain
- Lucia Salinas, Sr., Tomellosois, Spain
Erskine
- Ketsiri Pornsakunphaisan, Fr., Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Lina Lindqvist, So., Lahti, Finland
- Maddie McNeece, So., Clinton, Mississippi
King
- Kate Watanasiripong, Sr., Temecula, California
- Matilda Svensson, Jr., Oxie, Sweden
- Carolina Calzada, So., Playa Del Rey, California
Mount Olive
- Lucie Levet, Jr., Orleans, France (2025 All-Conference Carolinas)
- Claire Beitel, Jr. Irvington, Virginia
- Aoi Ito, Sr., Sendai, Japan
UNC Pembroke
- Catherine Desiena, So., Oakridge, North Carolina
- Marta Ortega, So., Mallorca, Spain
- Melissa Guerra Landa, Jr., Caracas, Venezuela
North Greenville
- Brenna Miller, Sr., Dillon, South Carolina (2024 All-Conference Carolinas)
- Kate Matthews, Jr., Greenville, South Carolina
- Nikki Strandell, Sr., Marietta, South Carolina
Shorter
- Taylor Young, So., Green Cove Springs, Georgia
- Leah Anderson, Jr., Oconee, Georgia
- Raina Horton, Fr., Marietta, Georgia
Southern Wesleyan
- Mia Andrade, Fr., Chapin, South Carolina
- Caitlyn Gaines, Fr., Lexington, South Carolina
- Allie Thomas, Fr., Aiken, South Carolina
Young Harris
- Lucy Wiegert, Sr., Cochran, Georgia
- Tamara Brito, Sr., Las Palmas, Spain
- Avery Cauwels, Fr., Woodstock, Georgia