The 2026 North Carolina High School Athletic Association girls golf season tips off on Aug. 10.
Avery County had the best season of any WNC team last season, winning the NCHSAA 1A/2A state championship. All five of its golfers finished inside the top 25 at the state championships.
With the season just beginning, the Citizen Times and Times-News are highlighting the top 10 WNC high school girls tennis players to watch this season.
Katie Calhoun
Avery County | Junior
Calhoun shot a 26-over-par, 98, to finish tied for 24th place at the state championships. She averaged
46.9 strokes per nine holes.
Molly Forbes
Avery County | Senior
Forbes had a 16-over, 88, to record a tie for seventh at the state championships. She helped Avery County win its first state championship in program history.
Kendall Kulhan
Avery County | Senior
Kulhan finished tied for 13th place, shooting a 19-over-par 91. She averaged 44.9 strokes per nine holes.
Sydney Kulhan
Avery County | Senior
Kulhan was the Vikings' top golfer last season, averaging 37.2 strokes per nine holes. She racked up a third-place finish at the west regional and followed that up with a tied-for-third-place finish at the state championships, shooting a 12-over, 84.
Erika Ralston
Avery County | Junior
Ralston averaged 46.2 strokes per nine holes. She shot a 23-over, 97, to finish tied for 20th at the state championships.
Elsa Thomas
Carolina Day | Junior
Thomas averaged 45 strokes per nine holes as a sophomore.
Rylee Davis
McDowell | Junior
Davis averaged 49.3 strokes per nine holes last season.
Gracelynn McGarr
McDowell | Senior
McGarr averaged 45.6 strokes per nine holes. She qualified for the NCHSAA 7A West Regional.
Charlee Sparks
Mitchell | Senior
Sparks had a tied-for-32nd-place finish, shooting a 30-over, 102, at the NCHSAA 3A state championships.
Mallie Buchanan
Mountain Heritage | Junior
Buchanan finished tied for seventh place at the NCHSAA 3A state championship. She shot an 87.
Scout Schermerhorn
Owen | Senior
Schermerhorn finished tied for 14th at the NCHSAA 3A state championship. She recorded a 92.
Ava Leigh Bradley
Pisgah | Junior
Bradley averaged 45.5 strokes per nine holes. She was named Mountain Eight All-Conference in 2025.
Abbey Adams
Tuscola | Senior
Adams averaged 43.8 strokes per nine holes last season. She shot a 92 to record a 15th-place finish at the NCHSAA 4A state championships.
Melody Kirkpatrick
Tuscola | Sophomore
Kirkpatrick averaged 49.1 strokes per nine holes as a freshman.
Jordan Hall
West Henderson | Junior
Hall shot a 138 to finish tied for 12th at the NCHSAA 5A state championship.
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 15 WNC high school girls golfers to watch in 2026 NCHSAA, NCISAA season
