HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University women's golfer Makayla Grubb earned medalist honors at the USGA Women's Amateur Qualifier Wednesday afternoon to secure her place at the 126th U.S. Women's Amateur. It will be the Grubb's first appearance at the prestigious event.  

She shot 3-under-par 67, sinking four of her five birdies on the back nine at the Kenwood Golf & Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Grubb's round was two shots lower than the entire field as she was one of two golfers to qualify for a spot at the 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship from August 4–9, 2026, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.

"It means a lot to me to be able to represent my school, my coaches, and my family on such an elite level," Grubb said. "I've been playing in these qualifiers for five years and each year have walked away empty-handed, so I'm happy it's my time. I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity and proud of myself and this accomplishment."

In her first year in Purple & White, Grubb was sensational. The eight-time Big South Conference weekly award winner was named the Big South Freshman of the Year and a Big South First-Team All-Conference honoree. She helped lead the Panthers to their first-ever Big South Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Grubb entered the postseason atop the conference's stroke average leaderboard at 72.59 and tied for third in Top 10 finishes with six. Ranked No. 211 nationally, she placed second at the Big South Championship with a 217, then delivered an 8&7 victory in the Championship Match to help lead HPU to its first title in program history. Grubb's 5-under performance at the Lady Paladin Invitational tied for the second-lowest 54-hole score in the conference this season, while her round of 67 at the Golfweek Fall Challenge also tied for the second-lowest round in the league this year.