Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech women's golf head coach Carol Robertson announced Friday the additions of Bella Bugg, Banthita “Pearl” Phoncharatkun and Savannah Dupre to her Class of 2025. The dynamic trio is set to transfer to the Hokies from Florida State, Lee University (Tenn.) and St. Mary’s (Texas), respectively.
Bella Bugg
Redshirt Sophomore
5-7
Franklin, Tenn.
Battle Ground Academy
Florida State
2024-25 (Florida State): Competed in the Patriot All-American Invitational in Litchfield Park, Ariz. over winter break, carding a 228 (74-76-78) to tie for 69th.
2023-24 (Florida State): Teed it up in three events, logging a 75.4 scoring average … In her FSU debut, placed 58th at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate with a 232 (79-77-76) … Competed as an individual at the Schooner Fall Classic, firing a 222 (70-78-74) … Tied for 40th as an individual at the Florida State Match-Up behind a 225 (73-77-75).
Junior/Amateur: Champion of the 2024 Tennessee Women’s Amateur at Belle Meade Country Club and qualified for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. … Won the 2023 AJGA Huntsville.org Junior Championship, carding rounds of 72-67-72 … Two-time HJGT Junior Long Drive National Champion (2020 and 2022) … Graduated from Battle Ground Academy in 2023 ... Four-year varsity letterwinner in golf ... Also earned varsity letters in basketball (four), soccer (three) and softball (two) ... Played in the TSSAA State Championship Women’s Golf Tournament in three of her four seasons at Battle Ground ... Won the TSSAA Division II-A individual state championship as a senior as she carded an even-par 140 (68-72) ... Led Battle Ground to a runner-up showing in the team standings at the state championship as a senior ... Earned All-State First-Team honors for Division II-A as a senior in 2022 by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association ... As a freshman, she finished second in the state regional championships and fifth at the district championships ... Led BGA to a second-place team finish in the district championships as she finished in fifth place in the individual championships as a sophomore ... Led her team to a third-place team finish as she finished in fifth place in the district championships as a junior in 2021 … Helped lead the Wildcats to consecutive state championships as a soccer midfielder during her freshman and sophomore seasons … Chose Virginia Tech over Kansas, Michigan State, Tulsa and USF.
Personal: Bella Bugg … Born in Nashville, Tenn. … Daughter of Amy and Konnor Bugg … Has three dogs, Franklin, Braxton and Cleo … Selected to the Garnet and Gold Leadership Academy while at Florida State … A member of the BGA Athletics Leadership Academy ... Academically inclined and graduated with a 4.40 grade point average ... A member of the Cum Laude Academic National Chapter, the National Honor Society, the Digamma Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars at Battle Ground ... Very community-serviced oriented, she competed in the Tennessee Cup – an AJGA fundraising event for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center, the Snedeker Foundation and the AJGA’s ACE grant program in – 2021 and 2022 ... Volunteered throughout her career at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Tennessee, Graceworks Ministry, Angel Tree and the First Tee program of Nashville ... A four-year class officer at Battle Ground, and volunteered her time as a writing tutor for her fellow students ... Began playing golf in 2016 while she was 11 years old and in the sixth grade ... Was introduced to the game of golf by her grandfather ... Began playing soccer when she was five years old ... Traveled around the southeast of the U.S. from ages 3-10 competing in national level gymnastics ... Plans to major in criminology.
Coach Robertson on Bugg: "Bella's remarkable victory at the Tennessee Women's Amateur showcases her resilience and skill. Her strength and love for the game will align nicely at Virginia Tech. We're excited to welcome Bella to our Hokie family and look forward to the positive impact she'll have on our program."
Banthita “Pearl” Phoncharatkun
Graduate Student
5-2
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Sarasas Witaed Korat School
Lee University (Tenn.)
2024-25 (Lee): Ranked as the No. 25 Division II women’s golfer, according to the Scoreboard national rankings … Competed in 30 rounds with a 72.8 scoring average … First-team All-GSC … Produced six top-20 showings, including a victory at the Savannah Lakes Invitational where she fired a 4-under 212 (69-74-69); Lee also captured the team title … Signed for a season-best 7-under 209 (66-72-71) to place fifth at the LeeAnn Noble Memorial … Runner-up at the Jerry Surratt Memorial Intercollegiate with an even-par 216 (72-70-74) … Led Lee to a No. 13 DII national ranking as a team.
2023-24 (Lee): Earned a No. 44 national player ranking as a junior … Posted a 73.7 scoring average and nine top-20 performances … First-team All-GSC … Tied for 12th at the NCAA Division II National Championship behind a season-best 1-under 215 (71-72-72) … Finished third in three events, twice delivering an even-par effort.
Prior to Lee: Competed two seasons at Seminole State College of Florida … Swept the 2023 NJCAA team national championship and individual title … Ended the 2022-23 season as the top-ranked women’s golfer in NJCAA.
Personal: Banthita “Pearl” Phoncharatkun … Born in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand … Daughter of Pongsakorn Phoncharatkun and Nuchanart Tompho … Introduced to golf at the age of five when she began following her dad to the driving range … Continued practicing for two years, and at the age of seven, entered and won her first tournament.
Coach Robertson on Phoncharatkun: “Pearl will add lots of experience to our team. She is a very steady and consistent player who we look forward to welcoming to Hokie Nation!”
Savannah Dupre
Junior
5-3
Boerne, Texas
Champion
St. Mary’s University (Texas)
2024-25 (St. Mary’s): WGCA Division II First-Team All-American (third person in St. Mary’s school history to earn the honor) … Ranked No. 11 in the Division II individual national rankings … Won both the Rattler Invitational and the Lone Star Conference Championship this season and finished in the top 10 in six other events … Fired a 6-under 210 (69-69-72) to capture the Rattler Invitational and lead the Rattlers to the team title … Carded a 4-under 212 (71-71-70) to earn medalist honors at the Lone Star Conference Championship, while the team finished second … Broke the St. Mary’s single-season record for stroke average at 73.03 … Guided the Rattlers to three team titles and 10 top-five showings … Placed eighth as a team and tied for 10th, individually, at the NCAA West Regional.
2023-24 (St. Mary’s): Earned honorable mention All-American and All-Region (Received WGCA All-Region upon recording a three-round total of 217 in the NCAA Regional tournament) honors as a true Freshman, helping lead the Rattlers to a National Runner-Up finish … In seven tournaments, placed in the top 25 five times and three of those five were in the top 10 … Averaged 74 strokes per round … Had 10 rounds with par or better … Tallied a low round of 68 in the final round of the Midwestern State invitational to tie for individual medalist honors and in the final round of stroke play at the NCAA Championship … During match play at the NCAA championship, won two rounds and tied in the finals … Earned a place on the Lone Star Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both semesters and was tabbed a WGCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.
Prior to St. Mary’s: Was a four-time all-district selection at Boerne Champion High School, as well as being named to the Academic All-State team as a senior… Won the Region 4-5A title in 2021… A member of the 2023 5A All-State Team… District 26-5A First-Team All-District in 2021 and 2023 after getting 4-5A All-Region honors in 2023… A member of the National Honor Society and the National English Honor Society.
Personal: Savannah Dupre … Born in Carrollton, Texas … Daughter of Rich and Angela Dupre … Has an older brother, Blaise … Father, Rich, played golf at St. Mary’s (Texas) … Plans on pursuing a degree in real estate.
Coach Robertson on Dupre: “It is clear Savannah is motivated to bring her game to the next level, and we are excited to expose her to our program and the ACC. She will be a terrific addition.”