Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech's Emily Mahar and Becca DiNunzio were selected to the 2021-22 VaSID (Virginia Sports Information Directors) Women's Golf University Division All-State teams, as announced by the organization Friday afternoon. Mahar was named to the first team, while DiNunzio secured a spot on the second team.
Mahar, a first team honoree for the third straight season and fifth time being recognized overall, led the Hokies with her 72.81 scoring average. She was lauded by the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) as an All-America Honorable Mention selection after recording 17 par-or-better rounds in 2021-22. The Brisbane, Australia native earned All-ACC distinction for the second straight season, becoming the first Hokie to do so. Mahar totaled seven top-10 performances including a pair of runner-up finishes at the Landfall Tradition and NCAA Ann Arbor Regional.
In addition to competing in the 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur, Mahar punched her ticket to the NCAA Women's Golf National Championship for the second year in a row - this time as an individual.
DiNunzio finished second on the team in scoring average at 74.65. She had four top-20 finishes on the year including the Columbia Classic, where she finished a career-best tied for second. The junior carded nine par-or-better rounds, the second-most on the team.
Three of the major VaSID awards went to Virginia, headlined by freshman Amanda Sambach, who took home both VaSID Co-Player of the Year and VaSID Rookie of the Year in her first collegiate campaign. Old Dominion senior Jana Melichova was also named VaSID Co-Player of the Year and Virginia head coach Ria Scott was named VaSID Coach of the Year.
Sambach was stellar in her freshman season, earning Honorable Mention All-American honors by the WGCA and finishing 31st at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Her stroke average of 72.85 led Virginia on the year and is the lowest scoring average by a freshman in program history.
Melichovia was named a WGCA All-American after tying for 13th at the 2022 NCAA Championships. She punched her NCAA ticket by capturing a tie for third at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional and was named First Team All-Conference USA for her performance in 2021-22.
Scott guided Virginia to a 15th-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Championships and a top-10 spot in the Golfstat rankings for much of the season. In addition to four runner-up finishes during the season, including at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional, the Cavaliers saw an ACC-best five players named to the ACC All-Academic Team as Virginia posted a perfect APR score.
VaSID names 44 all-state teams in 23 sports each year, an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in Virginia.
2021-22 VaSID Women's Golf University Division
Co-Player of the Year: Amanda Sambach, Virginia
Co-Player of the Year: Jana Melichova, Old Dominion
Rookie of the Year: Amanda Sambach, Virginia
Coach of the Year: Ria Scott, Virginia
First Team
Jennifer Cleary, Virginia
Beth Lillie, Virginia
Emily Mahar, Virginia Tech
Jana Melichova, Old Dominion
Amanda Sambach, Virginia
Second Team
Becca DiNunzio, Virginia Tech
Sarah Houle, William & Mary
Kendall Turner, James Madison
Celeste Valinho, Virginia
Rory Weinfurther, Richmond