CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia sophomore Amanda Sambach and Cavalier head coach Ria Scott picked up major awards as part of the 2023 VaSID All-State University Division Women’s Golf awards, as announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) on Tuesday afternoon.
Sambach was named VaSID Golfer of the Year after improving on her stellar freshman season by breaking her own UVA scoring record with a 71.31 mark in 2022-23. She was named a first-team All-American by Golfweek and was a second-team selection by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and was the Atlantic Coast Conference individual champion after shooting an ACC and UVA record 14-under 202 at Sedgefield Country Club.
Her three individual victories in 2022-23, including medalist honors at the NCAA Westfield Regional, is a UVA single-season record and she was a finalist for the ANNIKA Awards and WGCA National Player of the Year honors.
Scott doubled the Cavaliers’ award haul with her third career VaSID Coach of the Year nod after leading Virginia back to the NCAA Championships and the Cavaliers’ 17th straight postseason berth. Virginia reached the match play finals at the ACC Championships before taking 24th at NCAA Championships and racked up four top-four finishes on the season.
Four different universities picked up selections to the All-State First and Second Teams in 2022-23, led by four picks from James Madison. Kendall Turner was named to the First Team, while Kate Owens, Haley Quickel and Amelia Williams were named to the Second Team.
Virginia’s Jennifer Cleary joined Sambach on the First Team and teammate Celeste Valinho was named to the Second Team, while Virginia Tech added Becca DiNunzio on the First Team alongside Ketchum. Richmond’s Rory Weinfurther was named to the Second Team to round out the selections.
VaSID names 44 all-state teams in 23 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.
2023 VaSID All-State University Division Women’s Golf Team
First Team
Morgan Ketchum, Fr., Virginia Tech
Amanda Sambach, So., Virginia
Kendall Turner, r-Jr., James Madison
Jennifer Cleary, Jr., Virginia
Becca DiNunzio, Sr., Virginia Tech
Second Team
Celeste Valinho, Sr., Virginia
Amelia Williams, Jr., James Madison
Rory Weinfurther, Jr., Richmond
Kate Owens,…
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