What started as a shared interest in golf blossomed into the McCauley sisters playing together on the same collegiate team.

Minnesota’s Reese McCauley grew up playing golf because of her older sister, Isabella McCauley. Watching Isabella practice alongside their dad, Reese knew she wanted to follow in her footsteps.

The two sisters each started playing golf at the age of six. Their father, Sean McCauley, ignited the love for the sport in both of his daughters by bribing the two with candy to get them to practice.

“He just made us love it. Growing up, we would be playing games and he told me I had a good shot, so from then on I wanted to go out there all the time,” Reese said.

Sean was a golf instructor before the girls were born, passing his knowledge and passion onto them. 

The sisters played together for two years at Simley High School before Isabella left to play in college.

Isabella paved the way for her sister as she collected many accolades throughout high school, including an individual state championship title and being named Ms. Minnesota Golf in 2022.

Both of which Reese achieved as well.

Reese looked up to her sister as her biggest inspiration. Taking after her older sister, Reese quickly rose through the ranks in high school, where she became a two-time state champion and Ms. Minnesota Golf in 2024.

Although neither sister planned on attending the same college, the University of Minnesota just ended up being the right fit for both of them, being about 25 minutes away from home.

“It was never something from the start where we said we have to go to the same school, it just happened that way and ended up being the best fit for both of us,” Isabella said.

Growing up, the sisters were always close. Practicing long hours together, Isabella would always encourage Reese, wanting her to be the best version of herself.

“It’s nice to have someone who knows the ropes ahead of time to help me,” Reese said.

Adjusting to a university as big as Minnesota, Reese was grateful for the guidance from her older sister for her freshman year.

Both Isabella and Reese were excited about the idea of being teammates with a sister, but they did not know they would get a best friend as well.

“It’s been absolutely amazing having her on the team, she and I are like best friends and being able to make memories for these two years while I am here, it’s so awesome,” Isabella said.

Now the sisters enjoy sharing a hotel room at competitions, having family to travel with for competitions and a 24-hour practice partner. 

“It kind of feels like we are an old married couple at times, where we fight a lot but then we will be super close, so it is really fun,” Reese said. 

Having both a friend and teammate who have the same goals makes it a lot easier to stay on track as a college athlete and hold one another accountable.

“It is kind of crazy when you think about us ending up together, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Isabella said.