McCauley Named All-American

Bella McCauley, the University of Minnesota sophomore who claimed a share of the Big Ten Conference championship this spring and then defied the odds by qualifying as an individual for the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row, has been named an All-American Honorable Mention.

The former state high school champion from Inver Grove Heights won twice during the 2023-24 college season, first at the Boilermaker Classic, and then at the Big Ten tournament, where she closed with a 64. To qualify for the NCAA Championships as an individual, a player has to finish first among 41 players -- the six who enter the regional as individuals and also all 35 of the players on the seven teams don't advance. (Five teams advance from each of the six regionals.) This year, McCauley made it by shooting a final-round 65 at the Auburn Regional and finishing second individually. Auburn freshman Anna Davis was the only player to finish ahead of her, and the Auburn qualified for the NCAA as a team.

At the NCAA tournament, which was played on an Omni at La Costa Course that favored high, soft fades, McCauley struggled. She tends to hit low hooks. That wasn't the preferred shot on a course with firm -- and often elevated -- greens, and she tied for 86th.

McCauley, who had three top-10 finishes in '23-24, and five top-20s, now owns the Gopher season and career scoring records. She averaged 72.39 for the season, and has a 72.59 average for her two years of college golf.