Augusta University senior Sara Adams enters the 2026- 2027 season following the strongest year of her collegiate career.
The Whispering Pines, North Carolina, native lowered her scoring average from 77.62 to 74.2 during her second season at Augusta, recorded 23 rounds of 75 or better and added two seventh place finishes. Her progress is especially notable considering Adams did not play her first golf match until 2021.
Career Highlights
• 2025- 2026 West Coast Conference All Academic
• 2024- 2025 Second Team All Southland Conference
• Career best 74.2 scoring average in 2025 to 2026
• 23 rounds of 75 or better in 2025 to 2026
• Career low round of 70
• Two career best seventh place finishes
• T5 at the 2026 Carolinas Women’s Amateur
• Played every tournament during both seasons at Augusta
An Unconventional Start in Golf
Adams grew up in the Pinehurst area but spent much of her childhood competing in other sports. She raced dirt bikes around the country and reached the national championship three times before competing in basketball, tennis and track during high school.
A significant knee injury eventually changed her athletic path. Adams began focusing on golf and played her first match in 2021. Despite having little competitive experience, she earned an opportunity at Appalachian State after meeting a former App State player during a father daughter tournament.
Adams joined the program as a walk on and redshirted her first season, using the year to learn from more experienced teammates and develop her game.
From Appalachian State to Augusta
Adams competed in four tournaments during her second year at Appalachian State. Her best performance came at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate, where she finished ninth after closing with a 70.
She then transferred to Augusta in search of an opportunity to continue developing. Adams was immediately impressed by the program’s practice facilities and viewed the move as a chance to see how far she could take her game.
She played all 10 tournaments during her first season with the Jaguars, posting a 77.62 scoring average and earning Second Team All Southland Conference honors.
Breakthrough at Augusta
Adams made a significant jump during the 2025 to 2026 season.
Her scoring average improved to 74.2, and she more than doubled her number of rounds of 75 or better from 10 to 23. She also finished seventh at both the UNF Collegiate and More Than Golf Invitational.
Adams credited the improvement to increased tournament experience, working with swing coach Eric Williamson and learning how to manage her game rather than relying primarily on athletic ability.
During the CGN interview with Adams, she recalled an experienced amateur golfer describing that transformation simply: she had gone from an athlete who played golf to a golfer who was also an athlete.
Interview Highlights with CGN
Family Influence
Adams credits her father with helping introduce and develop her game. Her mother attends her college tournaments and emphasizes attitude, composure and remembering that golf does not define her.
Making the Most of a Redshirt Year
Adams approached her first season at Appalachian State as an opportunity to improve and learn from teammates. She believes every player can find a meaningful role on a team regardless of lineup position.
Learning Tournament Golf
Regular competition at Augusta helped Adams improve her course management and understand how to score at the collegiate level. She also used summer competition in North Carolina to continue developing those skills.
Future in Golf
Adams is keeping the possibility of playing beyond college open. After seeing how much she has improved in only five years, she wants to find out how far continued development could take her.
CGN Angle
Sara Adams’ path demonstrates how quickly a collegiate career can develop.
She went from playing her first golf match in 2021 to walking on at Appalachian State, earning a regular role at Augusta and lowering her scoring average by more than three strokes in one season.
Now entering her senior year, Adams has an opportunity to continue a progression that has defined her college career while determining how far she wants to pursue the game beyond Augusta.