WritingHERstory: Emily Mathews’ Focus on the Fairway

Golf was never just a hobby for Emily Mathews. Growing up with a now-professional golfer as a brother, Mathews knew from a young age that her dream was to excel at what she knew best: golf. Born in El Paso, Texas, and then moving to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she spent most of her adolescence, Mathews didn’t learn her love for the game like most. Her older brother, Nick Mathews, was playing for NC State when she was just nine years old.  

“When I was little, I just wanted to do whatever he did, so I kind of just followed him around on the course. I got into it through him and my dad, but as I got older, I kind of started playing for myself, and I realized that there was an opportunity to go to college for it. So, I started taking it pretty seriously.” 

Golf came naturally for Mathews, and following in her brother's footsteps was one thing, but making a name for herself was another. Pursuing golf, intertwined with an accomplished brother, was not always a walk in the park, especially as one of the few girls competing in that space. 

After high school, Mathews decided to take the next step. With offers rolling in from multiple schools, initially, Mathews felt the pressure of deciding where to commit, but once she found Virginia Tech, she knew it was home. 

“I had the same offer from all three schools. I was talking to a few others, like Auburn and Miami, but I came and visited here, and I think the coaches did an amazing job of making me feel like I was a priority when I was getting recruited, which was important to me. I wanted to be an important piece to this team, not just a back burner.” 

On her first visit to Virginia Tech, Mathews was surprised at how easy that decision became. 

“I went to a football game. I got to see the campus, and it made me feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. A lot of people, through recruiting, told me I'd know when it's the right school. And after visiting Tech, I was like, oh, yeah. Immediately, I took the offer a few days later, and here I am.” 

Now, a junior at Virginia Tech, Mathews has continued to prove herself as a key piece of the Hokies’ lineup. As a WGCA All-American Scholar, she currently ranks second on the team with a 72.13 scoring average, logging nine par-or-better rounds across eight events. Mathews won the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate with an even-par 216 (76-70-70), helping lead the Hokies to the team title. Tech has advanced to NCAA regionals in each of her first two seasons in Blacksburg. 

Mathews’ success speaks for itself, but so far, her favorite accomplishments include earning her first individual win and firing three rounds in the 60s this season, with a season-best 4-under 66 in the second round of the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, where she was the runner-up with a 4-under 206 (70-66-70). 

“The UNC tournament last semester... it’s probably some of the best golf I’ve played. And then this semester, at our first tournament of the season, I got my first individual win, which was a cool experience. I mean, I was happy for myself for about five seconds, and then to be able to celebrate with my team and enjoy that moment with them and be present was, yeah, I mean, I can’t trade that for anything.” 

Mathews finds her strength through the six women who stand with her on Virginia Tech’s women's golf team. The strength that they all demonstrate to persevere through hardships and hold each other to the highest level of competition isn’t something to be overlooked. Mathews notes that many athletes face hurdles that they cannot overcome alone. 

Teammates turn into family, and Mathews prides herself and her team on unconditionally standing with one another, creating a space where women in the sport can continue to grow, compete, and belong. 

“We’ve watched each other struggle. I pick up their little nuances and implement those in my game and notice how I react to certain situations. I think that goes for all of us, just the back and forth, like being able to learn from each other’s mistakes and our successes is huge.” 

Before she leaves her mark on the course, Mathews is just as focused on the impact she leaves beyond it, understanding that her presence in the game is about more than scores, but about setting the tone for the next generation of women to follow. 

“If I was speaking to younger girls, I think the one thing I would say is, even if our viewership isn’t as high, and even if you don’t feel as strong, know that you hold a lot of importance for the sport and for the upcoming players and the girls that want to be like you. So just keep pushing and putting a good image out there for the upcoming generation.” 

As she continues her career, Mathews is proving that her presence in the sport matters, not just for today, but for every young girl watching what comes next.