Kentucky Women’s Golf Signs Junior College All-American, National Champion Samantha Paradise
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s golf program and Samantha Paradise have signed an agreement, it was announced by head coach Golda Borst on Tuesday. Paradise, an All-American and national champion out of Daytona State College, will be a junior in the incoming class.
Samantha Paradise | Tampa, Florida | Junior
Samantha Paradise, a Tampa, Florida, native, spent the last two seasons at Daytona State College. She hit the ground running as a freshman in 2023-24, earning a 72.7 stroke average across 11 tournaments and 28 rounds en route to being named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American.
Down the stretch of her freshman season in 2023-24, 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. There, she helped the Falcons win the NJCAA National Championship on a 6-under team total at Duran Golf Club in Viera, Florida.
Paradise concluded that season ranked fifth in the NJCAA rankings.
Last season as a sophomore in Daytona Beach, she rallied a 73.6 stroke average over 10 tournaments and 29 rounds in 2024-25. She collected three more finishes inside the top 10 for her college career, including finishing in an improved sixth 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.
Borst on Paradise:
“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. She played a pivotal part to 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!”
Samantha on UK:
“Growing up, I have come to realize that one of the most important things in life are the people that we surround ourselves with. 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!”
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow the team on X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
