All five women’s golf starters named to All-ACC Academic Team

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

All five starters on the Virginia women’s golf team have been named to the 2021 Women’s Golf All-ACC Academic Team.

That group is comprised of senior Beth Lillie (Fullerton, Calif.), junior Riley Smyth (Cary, N.C.), sophomores Virginia Bossi (Como, Italy) and Celeste Valinho (Jacksonville, Fla.) and freshman Jennifer Cleary (Wilmington, Del.).

It was the most Cavaliers to earn ACC academic accolades since the 2005 season.

Lillie’s selection marks the third time she has received the honor during her collegiate career. The other four UVA players are first-time selections. No team was selected in 2020 due to the pandemic and cancellation of the sport’s spring season.

Previously this season, Lillie was named an All-ACC pick for the third time in her career. She finished ninth at the NCAA Championships and was named an honorable mention All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. Lillie’s 72.77 stroke average led UVA this season. She was the team’s top finisher in three of the Cavaliers’ tournaments this season including a third-place showing in the season-opening UCF Challenge and a victory in the three-team Match at Spring Creek. She had a total of five top-10 finishes during the season to raise her career total to 14.

Smyth was second on the team with a 73.27 stroke average and had four top-10 showings. Cleary had three top-10 outings and led the team in scoring twice as a freshman. Bossi posted a 74.55 stroke average while Valinho’s was 74.64.

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career for undergraduate students. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.