More and more opportunities in women’s college golf are opening up. This week alone, two NCAA DI/DII schools have announced the addition of varsity women’s golf teams for the upcoming school year. Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, is adding women’s golf as a varsity sport this year. The team is set to begin competing in the fall of 2024. Saint Joseph’s University, located in Philadelphia, announced the addition of women’s golf as a varsity sport this past week. The team will also begin competing fall of 2024.
Vice President and Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s, Jill Bodensteiner, said in a post on the university’s website, “We are extremely excited to announce the addition of one of the most popular sports for high school girls and college women with the addition of women’s golf. During my time on Hawk Hill, I have had more inquiries about starting a women’s golf program than any other sport. I am delighted to offer additional participation opportunities for female student-athletes to receive a Jesuit education at this great institution.” Saint Joseph’s officials indicated the search for a head coach will begin soon and that the women’s team will need placement in a conference. Saint Joseph’s competes in the Atlantic 10 in all other sports.
For Bentley University, women’s golf will be the 12th varsity athletic program for female student-athletes and the 24th varsity program overall. Director of Athletics, Vaughn Williams, says “we are excited to welcome more talented female student-athletes to proudly wear the Falcon jersey and compete for Bentley. Bentley Athletics is on the rise, and we’re looking forward to adding an extremely competitive women’s golf program that will continue that momentum on the links.” A search for Bentley’s first women’s head golf coach will begin shortly.
Bentley Athletics has been ascending the NCAA Division II ranks. Last year, the Falcons cracked the top 100 nationally in Division II for the Learfield Directors Cup, which ranks colleges across the U.S. for success across all sports in championships organized by the NCAA. Once Bentley women’s varsity golf begins competing in the fall of 2024, it will be the seventh women’s golf program competing in the Northeast-10. Currently, there are 191 NCAA Division II women’s golf programs in the U.S. More than 950 students compete in athletics at Bentley at the varsity and club levels.
Source: Todd Kelly for Golfweek | Gregor Walz for Bentley University
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