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HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University women’s golf team heads into the 2026 spring season following a successful fall slate that saw the Panthers finish third or better in all five tournaments.
The Panthers were runner-up three times — Pirate Collegiate Classic (-11), Lady Paladin (-5), and Golfweek Fall Challenge (+4) — while placing third at the Pat Bradley Invitational (+23) and White Sands Bahamas (+50). High Point had five Top-5 finishers, three Top-10 finishers, and 10 Top-20 finishers.
High Point was a perfect 6-0 against Big South Conference teams and is the highest ranked team in the NCAA Division I Scoreboard rankings, which is powered by Clippd, amongst all league teams at No. 65.
Fourth-year HPU Head Coach Lyndsey Hunnell has elevated the program during her tenure as the Panthers have risen in the rankings every season: No. 177 (2021-22), No. 130 (2022-23), No. 109 (2023-2024), No. 92 (2024-2025), and No. 65 (2025-26).
HPU had a scoring average of 291.33 through 15 rounds to lead the Big South, while the Panthers have three of the top five conference scoring averages: Makayla Grubb (second; 72.13), Anna Howerton (second; 72.87), and Eva Lye (fifth; 73.67). Ella Perna (seventh; 73.93) and Anais Arafi (12th; 74.53) are also in the top 12 of Big South women’s golfers.
The Panthers have won eight weekly awards with the standout Grubb leading the way with five:
Big South Player of the Week (3)
Big South Freshman of the Week (5)
Here’s a look at some highlights from each player:
Makayla Grubb
Third Place Finish at the Pat Bradley Invitational
New Collegiate Low: 67 (-4)
Scoring Average: 72.13
Par of Better Rounds: 8
Birdies: 46
Top-5 Finishes: 3
Top-10 Finishes: 1
Top-20 Finishes:1
Anna Howerton
Low Round of the Season: 68 (-3)
Scoring Average: 72.87
Par or Better Rounds: 8
Birdies: 39
Top-5 Finishes: 1
Top-10 Finishes: 1
Top-20 Finishes:2
Eva Lye
Third Place Finish at the Pirate Collegiate Classic
New Collegiate Low: 68 (-4)
Scoring Average: 73.67
Par or Better Rounds: 4
Birdies: 37
Top-5 Finishes: 1
Top-20 Finishes:1
Ella Perna
Low Round of the Season: 67 (-5)
Scoring Average: 73.93
Par or Better Rounds: 4
Birdies: 34
Top-10 Finishes: 1
Top-20 Finishes:3
Anais Arafi
New Collegiate Low: 68 (-4)
Scoring Average: 74.53
Par or Better Rounds: 3
Birdies: 40
Top-20 Finishes:1
Savannah Cherry
Low Round of the Season: 70 (-2)
Scoring Average: 75.58
Par or Better Rounds: 2
Birdies: 28
Peyton Costabile
New Collegiate Low: 70 (-2)
Scoring Average: 75.00
Par or Better Rounds: 1
Birdies: 14
Top-20 Finishes:1
Ambre Matlega
Low Round of the Season: 72 (E)
Scoring Average: 75.33
Par or Better Rounds: 1
Birdies: 8
Top-20 Finish: 1
Aubri Braecklein
Low Round of the Season: 75 (+3)
Scoring Average: 78.00
Birdies: 5
The spring season tees off on Feb. 9-10 at the Oyster Shuck Match Play event in Charleston, S.C.
#GoHPU
