Rock Hill, S.C.----The top-ranked Wingate University women's golf team headlines the 2026 South Atlantic Conference awards, earning two of the league's top honors. Sophomore standout Amely Bochaton (Evian Les Bains, France) has been named the SAC Women's Golfer of the Year, while fifth-year head coach JD Lamm earns SAC Coach of the Year honors, as announced by league officials.
 
Wingate placed five student-athletes on the All-South Atlantic Conference teams, continuing a dominant season for the nation's No. 1 team. Bochaton and fellow sophomore Olivia Meinecke (Bielefeld, Germany) were named first team All-SAC.
 
The No. 1 ranked player in NCAA Division II, Bochaton led the Bulldogs with five individual victories and a team-best 69.2 scoring average. She has been the driving force behind Wingate's success all season.
 
Ranked No. 5 nationally, Meinecke also earned first team honors after recording one victory and three top-three finishes while posting a 71.8 scoring average. She has consistently performed near the top of the leaderboard throughout the year.
 
Junior Jacqueline Gonzalez Howard (Durango, Mexico) and sophomore Haley Paramore (Winterville, N.C.) both earned second team All-SAC recognition. Ranked No. 37 nationally, Gonzalez Howard compiled a 73.7 scoring average and added a top-three finish this season, playing a key role in Wingate's lineup. Ranked No. 71 nationally, Paramore posted a 74.1 scoring average while providing consistent scoring and valuable contributions throughout the season.
 
Senior Lauren Sutcliffe (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was named third team All-SAC. Ranked No. 85 nationally, Sutcliffe posted a 74.6 scoring average while providing steady contributions across the season. All five Bulldogs earned All-SAC honors following a season that has seen Wingate maintain its position as the top-ranked team in the country.
 
Lamm has guided the Bulldogs to another historic campaign, with Wingate posting a 286.4 team scoring average while recording eight top-three finishes and seven tournament crowns. His leadership continues to elevate the program as one of the premier teams in NCAA Division II.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate University director of athletics Joe Reich
 
"We are very proud of our women's golf team and they have accomplished to this point! Coach Lamm is a fantastic leader and coach."
 
Wingate University head coach JD Lamm
 
"We are super excited that our five young ladies received recognition from the South Atlantic Conference. We've had an incredible year…and I attribute our successes to their work ethic. I am super happy to see their efforts rewarded."

"We are looking forward to a fun week in Greenville, South Carolina. There is tremendous talent in our conference…and we are looking forward to the challenge. Our team is peaking at the right time. We are extremely excited to see what we can achieve for the remainder of the season."
 
Amely Bochaton
No. 1 golfer in D2
 
- Leads team with a 69.2 scoring average
- Recorded five individual victories this season
- Ranked No. 1 nationally throughout the year
- Continues to be the top performer for the Bulldogs
 
Olivia Meinecke
No. 5 golfer in D2
 
- Posted a 71.8 scoring average
- Recorded one victory and three top-three finishes
- Consistent presence near the top of the leaderboard
 
Jacqueline Gonzalez Howard
No. 37 golfer in D2
 
- Posted a 73.7 scoring average
- Recorded one top-three finish
- Key contributor in the Wingate lineup
 
Haley Paramore
No. 71 golfer in D2
 
- Posted a 74.1 scoring average
- Provided consistent scoring and contribution for her team
 
Lauren Sutcliffe
No. 85 golfer in D2
 
- Posted a 74.6 scoring average
- Provided consistent scoring depth throughout the season
 
Next on the agenda for Wingate women's golf
 
Next on the agenda for Wingate is the South Atlantic Conference Championship, taking place Sunday through Tuesday, April 12-14 at The Preserve at Verdae in Greenville, South Carolina. The Bulldogs enter the event as the defending champions after winning last year's title at one-over-par.
 
The NCAA released the penultimate Division II women's golf regional rankings for the 2026 championship season Friday. Wingate is the No. 1 team in the South Region. Spots No. 2 through No. 5 are occupied by Anderson (S.C.), Nova Southeastern, Lander and Barry (Fla.).
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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(Editor's note: Wingate junior men's golf student-athlete Matthew Wordon contributed this article. He is an international business major from Bath, England.)