Montverde, Fla. (October 28, 2026) – Montverde Academy girls golfer Grace Xu has been named the school's Student-Athlete of the Week after shooting a 1-under-par 70 to help the Eagles defeat The First Academy 289-294 at Mission Inn in last week's regular-season finale.
The senior's performance helped MVA close its regular-season schedule with a five-stroke victory and added another strong round to her return to competition after missing the entire 2025 season with an injury.
Xu opened her 2026 season with a 3-under-par 67 at the Bishop Moore Invitational on Sept. 23 at Hawks Landing Golf Course, finishing fourth among 80 golfers and helping the Eagles place second among 15 schools. The following day, she shot a 1-over-par 37 at Bella Collina in MVA's 146-155 victory over Windermere Prep. Those performances earned her Student-Athlete of the Week recognition earlier this season.
She also carded a 72 at Bella Collina in October as the Eagles posted a 297 to win a tri-match against Windermere Prep and The First Academy.
Since receiving this week's honor, Xu has continued to contribute in postseason play. She shot a 72 to finish third individually at Tuesday's FHSAA district championship at Seven Springs in New Port Richey, helping MVA capture its second district title in three years with a team score of 287.
Xu's success follows one of the most accomplished individual performances in program history. As a freshman in 2024, she won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A individual state championship while leading Montverde Academy to its first girls golf team state title.
She opened that championship with a 9-under-par 62, setting the FHSAA girls golf state championship record for the lowest single-round score. She followed with a 2-under-par 69 to finish at 131 (-11), establishing another championship record for the lowest two-round total. Her performance also helped the Eagles set the championship's team scoring record with a 567.
Xu was subsequently named Florida Dairy Farmers' 2024 Miss Golf, recognizing her outstanding season.
A Shanghai, China, native who is now a senior after reclassifying, Xu is a member of MVA's Math Club and Arts and Athletics Leadership Committee and aspires to play golf professionally.
**The Montverde Academy Student-Athlete of the Week award is sponsored by the 2026-27 Montverde Academy Booster Club.
About Montverde Academy:
Montverde Academy is a private, independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K3 through post-graduate studies, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12 representing 70+ nationalities. Our mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision and passion for learning, in a disciplined and diverse community that nurtures character development. For more information, visit us online at Montverde.org and at MVASports.com.
