2026 Girls Golf Preview

Carolina Coast Conference Outlook

Hoggard has won five consecutive conference championships, but increasing that streak won’t be easy.

Last fall was another dominant one for the Vikings, who won every CCC match and held a 199-stroke lead over Topsail at the end of the season. Longtime boys golf coach Curt Budd takes over for Allison Jones, who left to become the girls basketball coach at Laney. Budd has a pair of talented players to lean on in sophomore Elliott Walters and junior Guerlain Gilbert. Finding a consistent third scorer will be the key to contending for another title.

Laney finished fourth in 2025, but a pair of skilled freshmen join junior Allie Casey to create a strong lineup. Casey won a pair of matches a year ago. Reigning Coastal Preps Golfer of the Year Alexis Ogden left Cape Fear Academy and is now a freshman at Isaac Bear Early College. Since she lives in the Laney district, she will compete for the Buccaneers. The other new addition is Peyton Johnson, who is also an experienced tournament player.

Topsail should once again finish in the upper half of the standings with the return of its top two players, juniors Reese Brinckman and McKenna Roberson. 

Senior Susan Davis of New Hanover is the reigning conference player of the year. She won six of the eight matches, including the conference championship with a 79. 

What to expect from other area schools

Coastal Christian qualified for the NCISAA Division II State Championship last season and shot 271-267 to finish in fourth place. Sophomore Emma Cowgill placed 18th out of 38 golfers with a pair of 89s. Her older sister, Caitlyn, was in a three-way tie for 19th. She is now a senior and will be the team leader. 

Cape Fear Academy has two young but promising players in eighth graders Tara Kuehner and Ailish Legbeti. Kuehner qualified for states in 2025 and was part of that three-way tie for 19th place. 

South Brunswick made the most of its move to the Southeastern Conference by winning the regular season title. Seniors Meryn Deutsch and Caroline Morris finished first and second in all three conference matches. With both returning, the Cougars are once again the heavy favorite to repeat. 

Golfers to Watch

Junior Reese Brinckman, Topsail (2025 All-Coastal Preps First Team): Three-year starter for the Pirates had a 9-hole scoring average of 44.3 last fall.

Junior Allie Casey, Laney (2025 All-Coastal Preps First Team): Top returning player for the Buccaneers won a pair of matches and finished third in the area in stroke average at 41.2.

Senior Caitlyn Cowgill, Coastal Christian (2025 All-Coastal Preps First Team): Five of her seven 18-hole rounds a season ago ended with scores in the 80s.

Sophomore Emma Cowgill, Coastal Christian (2025 All-Coastal Preps First Team): Had a terrific debut season with a 9-hole scoring average of 43.3. The youngster had a pair of rounds in the 70s (78 at Wilmington Muni and 79 at Prestonwood Country Club). 

Senior Susan Davis, New Hanover (2025 All-Coastal Preps First Team): Won six of eight Carolina Coast Conference matches in 2025 to secure Player of the Year honors. Her 9-hole scoring average was 39.2.

Senior Meryn Deutsch, South Brunswick: The Southeastern Conference Player of the Year had a 9-hole scoring average of 51.0. She shot a season-low 93 at Carolina National.

Junior Guerlain Gilbert, Hoggard (2025 All-Coastal Preps Second Team): Helped the Vikings claim a fifth consecutive conference title by averaging a 44.9 per nine holes. 

Freshman Peyton Johnson, Laney: Will make an immediate impact as one of two talented and experienced newcomers to the Laney lineup.

Eighth grader Tara Kuehner, Cape Fear Academy (2025 All-Coastal Preps Second Team): Last fall, she had a 9-hole scoring average of 45.8.

Freshman Alexis Ogden, Laney (2025 Coastal Preps Player of the Year): Reigning Coastal Preps Golfer of the Year shot either 72 or 73 in seven rounds. Her 9-hole scoring average of 37.1 led the area.

Senior Miranda Quinn-Schopf, West Brunswick: Averaged 49.3 per nine holes with a season-best score of 88 at Castle Bay.

Junior McKenna Roberson, Topsail (2025 All-Coastal Preps Second Team): Her best round last season was an 86 on her home course at Castle Bay. She had a 9-hole scoring average of 48.0.

Senior Callie Somers, Ashley (2025 All-Coastal Preps Second Team): The Screaming Eagles’ most experienced player had a 9-hole scoring average of 49.2.

Sophomore Elliott Walters, Hoggard (2025 All-Coastal Preps First Team): Burst onto the scene in a big way by playing No. 1 for the Vikings and finishing with a 41.9 scoring average over nine holes.

Team capsules

Each coach received an email to fill out a preseason questionnaire. Those answers were used for the team capsules. Schools that do not have a capsule did not return the questionnaire.  

Ashley

Head coach: Adrienne Gale

2025 Carolina Coast Conference finish: Fourth place

Key returning players: Senior Callie Somers, Junior Jairdin Boykin

Key Additions: Freshman Rayce Danielson

Strengths of the team: They work hard, help each other, and have fun.

Goals/expectations for the season: For the girls to have fun and get better.

Hoggard

Head coach: Curt Budd

2025 Carolina Coast Conference finish: First place

Key returning players: Junior Guerlain Gilbert, Sophomore Elliott Walters

Key Additions: None listed

Strengths of the team: The two returning starters are solid players.  

Goals/expectations for the season: To qualify for regionals as a team. 

Laney

Head coach: Sonja Stubbs

2025 Carolina Coast Conference finish: Fifth place

Key returning players: Junior Allie Casey

Key Additions: Freshman Peyton Johnson, Freshman Alexis Ogden

Strengths of the team: Competitive, dedicated, some play in tournaments outside of our season, and our sportsmanship is outstanding.

Goals/expectations for the season: We are looking to finish in the top three in every match this year. Last year, four of the five ladies had never played golf, so we are looking to really up our game this year with the addition of two experienced freshmen and those returners that have committed themselves to the sport. We had one player make states last year, so I hope we can get back there again this year.

South Brunswick

Head coach: Larry Brock

2024 Southeastern Conference finish: First place

Key returning players: Senior Meryn Deutsch, Senior Caroline Morris, Sophomore Alisha Wehlage

Key Additions: Sophomore Kylie Pierce

Strengths of the team: Three starters returning from our conference championship team. The conference golfer of the year is also returning.

Goals/expectations for the season: I’m looking forward to watching our team get better throughout the season. Work hard to win our conference and have some players qualify for regionals and possibly the state championships.

Topsail

Head coach: Harvey Hill

2025 Carolina Coast Conference finish: Second place

Key returning players: Junior Reese Brinckman, Junior McKenna Roberson

Key Additions: None listed

Strengths of the team: Depth

Goals/expectations for the season: To win the conference championship.