Charlotte, N.C. - Johnson & Wales Charlotte head golf coach Ken Dixon is excited to announce the signing of Abigail Herrington as the first member of the Wildcats' 2026 recruiting class. 

Herrington is a recent graduate of Chesnee High School where she was a member of the Eagles' five consecutive SCHSL 2A state championship teams. She earned All-Region honors twice during her prep career, and also was tabbed as an All-State player in 2025. Herrington plays junior golf through the South Carolina Junior Golf Association. In three tournaments so far in 2026, she has two top ten finishes, including a fourth place finish in her most recent event, the Lancaster One Day on 6/15.

Herrington is the daughter of Kelly and Brian Herrington and plans to major in Sports, Event,and Entertainment Management at Johnson & Wales. She had several compelling reasons for deciding to become a Wildcat. "I chose to go to Johnson & Wales University because they offer a program that fits exactly what I want to study and pursue as a career. They also have a golf team, which gives me the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love at the college level. When I visited, I really loved the campus and the overall environment; it just felt like the right fit for me." Beyond those, there was a final reason that made her decision easy. "It also means a lot to me that my mom went to JWU, so it feels special to continue that connection."

Coach Dixon thinks Herrington's been a Wildcat since birth, and now will show that on and off the golf course as well. "Abby has a deep connection with JWU as her mom is an alumna. I feel as though she already embodies the true Wildcat spirit, and I cannot wait to watch her excel on the course and in the classroom!"