Thursday, April 17
Orlando, FL
8:15 AM
University of Richmond
vs
Atlantic 10 Championship
Spiders Rally to Win Inaugural A-10 Women's Golf Championship
04/19/2025 | Women's Golf
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Richmond Spiders made a spate of late birdies to win the first-ever Atlantic 10 Women's Golf Championship Saturday. Richmond trailed Loyola Chicago by five shots entering the round and was tied with Dayton atop the leaderboard on the back 9 Saturday afternoon but rallied to win by an eight-shot margin for the fifth conference championship in program history. The Spiders combined for eight birdies on holes 12-18 in Round 3. Prior to that stretch, UR had managed just 11 birdies total over the event's first 47 holes.
"I don't even know how to describe the feeling of it," said Spiders coach Calle Barlow after winning her second conference title in the last three seasons. "I'm so proud of them. This means a lot for Richmond golf."
After 10 straight pars, junior Hannah Lydic birdied holes 12, 13, and 15 and got up and down from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole to shoot an even-par 72 and claim individual medalist honors with a 54-hole total of 224 (+8).
"I didn't know exactly where I was. I didn't know if I was in contention or not," said Lydic of her approach to the final hole. "I knew I played really well today and was super proud of what I did on the golf course."
Lydic has now won three tournament titles at Richmond, the most in program history. She is the third Spider to win an individual conference title, joining Rory Weinfurther (2021 Patriot League) and Sophie DiPetrillo (2018 Patriot League).
"Having absolute trust," said Lydic when asked about the key for her over the final 36 holes, which she played in 1-under par after an opening-round 81 (+9). "I had a lot of confidence over all of my shots."
"We had a really good range session after our first round and it kind of just clicked," said Barlow of Lydic. "She said 'coach - I need you to just sit here with me for 20 minutes' and we did. And me saying 'good shot, good shot, good shot, everything looks good' really just gives her confidence."
The Spiders finished at 57-over par (921), with Dayton placing second (65-over 929) and Loyola Chicago taking third (78-over 942). Richmond's 12-over 300 in Round 3 Saturday was the lowest round of the event. After opening with a 29-over 317 in Round 1 Thursday, the Spiders played the final two rounds in 28-over par, 12 shots better than any other team.
"I saw a lot of resilience," said Barlow. "After our meeting on [Thursday night], the message was, 'Hey, it's just another walk.' We've done so many of these this year. We've played in a lot of tournaments. It's just another one. That almost took a weight off their shoulders and they looked a little freer the second and third days."
Sophomore Maya Beasley helped to clinch the win by playing her final four holes in 2-under par, birdieing the 15th and 16th holes at Evermore Resort. She finished tied for fourth place at 14-over par (230), her team-best third top-10 finish this season. Following the tournament, Beasley and Lydic were named First Team All-Atlantic 10 for their performances during the entirety of the 2024-25 season.
Freshman Caroline Thompson birdied holes 13 and 14 Saturday — her second and third birdies of the week — and shot a 3-over 75, her best round this spring. She finished tied for eighth place at 21-over par (237), the best result by a Spiders freshman in a conference championship since current junior Olivia Wilkie tied for third at the 2023 Patriot League Championship.
"I told Caroline a couple of weeks ago, 'You know, I believe in you.' And she said 'Thanks coach.' And ever since I said that she has performed," said Barlow.
Wilkie placed 11th this week at 23-over par (239) and has now finished no worse than 11th in all three conference championship events during her career (tied for eighth at the 2024 Patriot League Championship).
Freshman Katie Magner was two shots back in 12th at 25-over par (241), securing the second top-20 finish of her freshman campaign. As the first Spider to tee off Saturday, her birdie at the par-4 16th hole helped to launch Richmond's decisive rally.
"My freshmen really stepped up. I believed in them and their teammates believed that they could pull through and they did. I am so proud of them," said Barlow of Magner and Thompson.
This is the fifth conference title in Richmond history, joining UR's Patriot League titles in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2023. The Spiders also won the Chris Banister Golf Classic in Alabama in March, making 2024-25 the first season in which Richmond has won multiple events since 2017-18, when the Spiders won a program-record four times.
"They are just grateful to be with each other, every single day in the golf course or in the weight room," said Barlow. "This group has come together and really stepped up to the occasion."
"I'm so proud of this team. We've come a long way. We've worked together as a team," added Lydic.
The Spiders will find out which NCAA Regional site they will compete at Wednesday at 1 PM during the NCAA Women's Golf Selection Show on Golf Channel.
"I don't even know how to describe the feeling of it," said Spiders coach Calle Barlow after winning her second conference title in the last three seasons. "I'm so proud of them. This means a lot for Richmond golf."
After 10 straight pars, junior Hannah Lydic birdied holes 12, 13, and 15 and got up and down from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole to shoot an even-par 72 and claim individual medalist honors with a 54-hole total of 224 (+8).
"I didn't know exactly where I was. I didn't know if I was in contention or not," said Lydic of her approach to the final hole. "I knew I played really well today and was super proud of what I did on the golf course."
Lydic has now won three tournament titles at Richmond, the most in program history. She is the third Spider to win an individual conference title, joining Rory Weinfurther (2021 Patriot League) and Sophie DiPetrillo (2018 Patriot League).
"Having absolute trust," said Lydic when asked about the key for her over the final 36 holes, which she played in 1-under par after an opening-round 81 (+9). "I had a lot of confidence over all of my shots."
"We had a really good range session after our first round and it kind of just clicked," said Barlow of Lydic. "She said 'coach - I need you to just sit here with me for 20 minutes' and we did. And me saying 'good shot, good shot, good shot, everything looks good' really just gives her confidence."
The Spiders finished at 57-over par (921), with Dayton placing second (65-over 929) and Loyola Chicago taking third (78-over 942). Richmond's 12-over 300 in Round 3 Saturday was the lowest round of the event. After opening with a 29-over 317 in Round 1 Thursday, the Spiders played the final two rounds in 28-over par, 12 shots better than any other team.
"I saw a lot of resilience," said Barlow. "After our meeting on [Thursday night], the message was, 'Hey, it's just another walk.' We've done so many of these this year. We've played in a lot of tournaments. It's just another one. That almost took a weight off their shoulders and they looked a little freer the second and third days."
Sophomore Maya Beasley helped to clinch the win by playing her final four holes in 2-under par, birdieing the 15th and 16th holes at Evermore Resort. She finished tied for fourth place at 14-over par (230), her team-best third top-10 finish this season. Following the tournament, Beasley and Lydic were named First Team All-Atlantic 10 for their performances during the entirety of the 2024-25 season.
Freshman Caroline Thompson birdied holes 13 and 14 Saturday — her second and third birdies of the week — and shot a 3-over 75, her best round this spring. She finished tied for eighth place at 21-over par (237), the best result by a Spiders freshman in a conference championship since current junior Olivia Wilkie tied for third at the 2023 Patriot League Championship.
"I told Caroline a couple of weeks ago, 'You know, I believe in you.' And she said 'Thanks coach.' And ever since I said that she has performed," said Barlow.
Wilkie placed 11th this week at 23-over par (239) and has now finished no worse than 11th in all three conference championship events during her career (tied for eighth at the 2024 Patriot League Championship).
Freshman Katie Magner was two shots back in 12th at 25-over par (241), securing the second top-20 finish of her freshman campaign. As the first Spider to tee off Saturday, her birdie at the par-4 16th hole helped to launch Richmond's decisive rally.
"My freshmen really stepped up. I believed in them and their teammates believed that they could pull through and they did. I am so proud of them," said Barlow of Magner and Thompson.
This is the fifth conference title in Richmond history, joining UR's Patriot League titles in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2023. The Spiders also won the Chris Banister Golf Classic in Alabama in March, making 2024-25 the first season in which Richmond has won multiple events since 2017-18, when the Spiders won a program-record four times.
"They are just grateful to be with each other, every single day in the golf course or in the weight room," said Barlow. "This group has come together and really stepped up to the occasion."
"I'm so proud of this team. We've come a long way. We've worked together as a team," added Lydic.
The Spiders will find out which NCAA Regional site they will compete at Wednesday at 1 PM during the NCAA Women's Golf Selection Show on Golf Channel.
Players Mentioned
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