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The University of Kentucky women’s golf program needed to bolster its depth for next season after barely missing the NCAA Tournament this year and UK coach Golda Borst seems to have found a needed piece by adding Daytona State College’s Samantha Paradise, a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American.
“We are really excited to have Samantha join our KWG family this fall. She will bring experience to our team and add some depth to our group,” Borst said in a release from UK after Paradise signed her agreement with Kentucky.
“She played a pivotal part in her team’s success at Daytona State, and I believe she will have an immediate impact on our team as well. Samantha is a strong competitor and a great student and we can’t wait to have her with us on campus soon!”
As a freshman in 2023-24, Paradise averaged 72.7 stroke per match average across 11 tournaments and 28 rounds. Down the stretch of her freshman season, she earned three straight finishes inside the top 10, including going just 5-over for ninth place out of 86 competitors at the NJCAA National Championship. Her team won the NJCAA National Championship.
As a sophomore in Daytona Beach, she had a 73.6 stroke average per 18 holes over 11 tournaments and 29 rounds. She had three more top 10 finishes, including finishing insixth place out of 96 student-athletes at the national championship.
Paradise checked in at No. 2 in the NJCAA rankings at the end of 2024-25.
“Growing up, I have come to realize that one of the most important things in life are the people that we surround ourselves with,” Paradise said in the UK release. “People who lift us up, push us to succeed and to become the best version of ourselves.
“That is the opportunity that I have been blessed with at the University of Kentucky. An environment that will allow me to accomplish great things both in the classroom and on the golf course. Go Wildcats!”
