Winthrop University is a public liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, known for strong programs in business, education, communications, psychology, and criminal justice plus a residential, small‑town campus feel. Students often rave about the active campus life, many clubs and events sponsored by the DiGiorgio Student Union, Division I sports, and the friendly, inclusive community in and around the campus green.

State

South Carolina

Student Population

6,100

Acceptance Rate

69–79%

GPA Range

2.9–3.3

SAT Range

1020–1200

Common Majors

business administration, psychology, criminal justice, education

“Winthrop feels like a close‑knit, residential campus where you can study in strong education and business programs, join lots of clubs and events on the campus green, and still be close to a friendly Southern town, and many students say they were surprised by how quickly the active programming and residence‑life community made them feel like part of the Winthrop family.”

Team & Tuition

Divison

Division 1

Tuition (no scholarship)

$15,956 / $30,286

Conference

Big South Conference

Scholarships Available

Yes. Both athletic and academic.

Avg Men's Scores

73.1

Avg Women's Scores

77.1

Men's Team Notes

Winthrop men surged to fourth at Peoples Golf Championship on Sea Palms Resort course, firing program-low 278 final round with Ashton Eubanks' 67 (-4). Thomas Lamar's T11 paced birdie runs on par-5s at Lake Jovita Invitational, driving top-10 finishes through depth and 21 total birdies amid stacked fields.

Women's Team Notes

Eagles women posted 308.5 adjusted average at Terrier Intercollegiate and Big South Championship on Cobbs Glen Golf Club, highlighted by low-70s rounds from leaders. Resilient par-4 scoring fueled top-6s at Elon Invitational on Alamance Country Club, building momentum with steady cuts made through windy Carolinas tests.

Coaches

Men's Coach

Kevin Pendley

Women's Coach

Kasay Gambrell

Men's Email

pendleyk@winthrop.edu

Women's Email

gambrellk@winthrop.edu

Men's Coach Bio

Kevin Pendley is Winthrop men’s head golf coach, leading the Eagles in the Big South Conference at the NCAA‑Division I level. He oversees the program’s recruiting, training, and competition schedule, working to keep the team competitive within the Southeast‑region‑style Big South golf landscape. Pendley emphasizes fundamentals, course‑management, and a rigorous in‑season schedule aimed at developing gritty, tournament‑ready players and steadily improving the team’s conference‑level finishes.

Women's Coach Bio

Kasay Gambrell is Winthrop women’s head golf coach, guiding the Eagles in the Big South Conference. Hired in 2019, she previously served as head coach at Presbyterian College, where she led her team to multiple conference‑level finishes and produced individual‑tournament‑medal‑winners. Gambrell focuses on fundamentals, short‑game development, and strong team culture, and aims to build a competitive, academically strong women’s‑golf program that contends regularly in Big South championship events.