Clemson, S.C. – Kelley Hester has been named one of four Golf Pride WGCA Regional Coaches of the Year, it was announced today by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.
Clemson posted a record of 130-34-2 head to head against its opponents during the year for a .794 winning percentage, best in Clemson history. That included a 25-5 mark at the NCAA National Tournament where Clemson finished fifth in stroke play to reach the match play championship. It also included a 9-1-1 record at the NCAA Bryan Regional where Clemson finished tied for second.
The best postseason run in Clemson history began at the ACC Tournament where Clemson finished second out of the 12 teams that competed. Hester’s team won its semifinal match against Virginia to move to 3-0 in match play at the ACC Tournament over the last two years.
Unfortunately the chance at a second straight ACC Championship was taken away when the championship match against Wake Forest was called due to darkness. ACC rules stated the match would not be continued the next day and Wake Forest was declared champion because they were the highest seeded team entering match play.
Hester has now guided Clemson to the NCAA National Tournament each of the last three years, leading the program to three straight Top 25 finishes, including the #5 finish in 2024.
The Tigers also finished 2023-24 with two All-ACC players (Chloe Holder, Annabelle Pancake) and just the fourth All-American in school history (Pancake).
Anne Walker was named the 2023-24 Division I Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year Presented by Golf Pride.
The remaining 2023-24 Golf Pride WGCA Regional Coaches of the Year are as follows:
East Region Coach of the Year: Kim Lewellen, Wake Forest University
Central Region Coach of the Year: Garrett Runion, Louisiana State University
West Region Coach of the Year: Anne Walker, Stanford University
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