Highlanders’ Championship Run Upended in Playoff to Advance to Match Play

FRIPP ISLAND, S.C. – The Radford women's golf program saw their 2026 Big South Championship run come to an unfortunate end Wednesday afternoon as the team tied for fourth but ultimately came up short in a sudden death tiebreaker.

Through the front nine, the Highlanders played solidly and were in a good spot sticking to their second-place ranking in the team leaderboard. Shea Smith had an incredible start, playing par in eight of the first nine holes. Grace Addison was right there as well, playing even through the front nine thanks in part to a birdie she sunk on hole seven.

Hole 10 marked a surge for the Highlanders as Smith, Caroline Gilreath and Mckenzie Weddle all recorded birdies. Gilreath and Weddle would go on to birdie on the 12th hole as well, but a rough showing on the 13th hole proved pivotal down the stretch. As a group, Radford shot seven-over on that hole.

The team would regroup well through the final stretch, but the standings grew tight and not in the Highlanders' favor. Longwood and UNC Asheville would leap into the third and second spots while Radford tied with Winthrop and Charleston Southern for the final spot of match play.

That triggered a sudden death tiebreaker between the three squads as the five listed players from each team would take to five playoff holes around the course. After each athlete played one hole, Charleston Southern came out with the win by just one shot to take the final spot in match play and end the Highlanders' season.

FINAL TEAM RESULTS (T-4TH OUT OF 9 TEAMS)
T-4th | Radford | 304-309-309—922 (+58)

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (OUT OF 45 GOLFERS)
T-10th | Mckenzie Weddle | 73-77-79—229 (+13)
T-10th | Grace Addison | 77-77-75—229 (+13)
T-15th | Caroline Gilreath | 77-75-78—230 (+14)
T-21st | Shea Smith | 77-82-77—236 (+20)
T-27th | Macy Johnson | 79-80-81—240 (+24)

Course Information

Ocean Creek

Par 72

6,032 yards

TEAMS IN THE EVENT (9 TEAMS, 45 GOLFERS)
Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, High Point, Longwood, Presbyterian, Radford, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Winthrop

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD WOMEN'S GOLF
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