MIDWAY, Ky. -The defending River States Conference champions will enter the 2026-27 season as one of the top programs in the country, as the Eagles have been ranked No. 24 nationally.

The ranking marks the first time in program history that Midway Women's Golf has appeared in the preseason national poll.

The honor comes on the heels of yet another successful season for head coach Otis Smith and the Eagles, who have captured back-to-back conference championships and now have seven conference titles in program history.

Midway was stellar at last year's RSC Championship. The Eagles got off to a slow start, falling 10 strokes behind after the opening round, but quickly battled back and took control of the tournament. Midway shot a 312 in the second round before closing the tournament with a 316, giving the Eagles a three-round total of 952. Midway finished 20 strokes ahead of runner-up IU East to secure its second consecutive conference championship.

The Eagles also swept the top three spots on the individual leaderboard. Savannah Salchli captured the individual title, Kasey Cameron finished runner-up and Kelsay Collins placed third. Cameron was also named the RSC Women's Golf Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Cameron and Salchli return for the Eagles this season as Midway looks to continue its success on both the conference and national stages.

By winning the conference tournament, Midway received an automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, marking the seventh time the program has qualified for the national tournament.

Midway has established itself as one of the premier programs in the River States Conference under Smith. The Eagles have won seven conference championships in the last 10 conference tournaments, including five consecutive titles from 2016-2021.

"I'm very happy we got voted inside the top 25 in the first poll of the season. The ladies on the team played extremely well last year and deserve this spot in the rankings," said Smith. "I hope this really lights a fire under them to remain in the rankings and continue to move up."
 

"We have a solid core of upperclassmen in Savannah and Kase, alongside Anna Simpson, who returns for her sophomore season after a stellar freshman year. We look poised to stay inside the top 25. We also have a couple of other returners who I have a lot of confidence in, plus a few new freshmen who can make a splash."

With a veteran core returning and several newcomers joining the program, the Eagles will look to build on last season's success and prove they belong among the nation's best.

Midway opens its 2026-27 season on Aug. 31 at the Eagle's Open in Marietta, Georgia.

About Midway University Athletics

Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.