High Point’s Anais Arafi from Switzerland, birdied the 22nd hole to secure a 3–2 win over UNC Asheville and deliver the Panthers their first Big South women’s title in dramatic fashion.
The championship followed a 54-hole stroke play qualifier at Ocean Creek Golf Course (par 72, 6,032 yards) on Fripp Island, S.C., where only four of nine teams advanced to match play. High Point earned the No. 1 seed at 34-over, finishing 15 shots clear of No. 2 UNC Asheville (49-over). Longwood and Charleston Southern claimed the final two spots.
High Point’s Anais Arafi birdied the 22nd hole to secure a 3–2 win over UNC Asheville and deliver the Panthers their first Big South women’s title in dramatic fashion.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY 🏆
HIGH POINT (@HPUWomensGolf) WINS THE BIG SOUTH WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP! pic.twitter.com/9v44fHqvQJ— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) April 22, 2026
The championship followed a 54-hole stroke play qualifier at Ocean Creek Golf Course (par 72, 6,032 yards) on Fripp Island, S.C., where only four of nine teams advanced to match play. High Point earned the No. 1 seed at 34-over, finishing 15 shots clear of No. 2 UNC Asheville (49-over). Longwood and Charleston Southern claimed the final two spots.
UNC Asheville’s sophomore Caroline Patterson was the standout in stroke play, capturing medalist honors at 1-under 215 (79-67-69). Starting the week tied for 26th after the opening round, the senior surged over the final two days to win by two strokes and become the program’s first individual conference champion.
The final lived up to its billing. Makayla Grubb (8&7) and Eva Lye (1UP) secured points for High Point, while Patterson (4&3) and Pennie Osterberg (2&1) answered for Asheville, leaving the match tied 2–2.
All eyes turned to Arafi. Playing her 38th hole of the day as daylight faded, the sophomore faced a familiar 40-yard pitch on the par-4 4th in sudden death. This time, she executed perfectly—clipping a 58-degree wedge to six feet and converting the birdie putt to clinch.