NAPERVILLE --- The 2025-26 CCIW Women's Golf fall season showcased both historic team accomplishments and record-breaking individual scoring across the conference in late August and throughout September.
 
Augustana's Lauren Reinertson established the league's top single round by firing an outstanding 69 during the Highland Championship, a score that ranks as the second-best women's round in Augustana history. Meanwhile, Carthage's Lexi Manteufel registered the best two-round tournament score (144) recorded by any CCIW student-athlete this fall, achieved at the Wartburg Fall Invitational. 
 
Team performance was led by Illinois Wesleyan, which set the league’s lowest single-round score (297) and lowest two-round tournament score (595) while securing their first-ever victory at the 25th annual IWU Fall Classic. Augustana also extended its dominance by winning the Highland Championship for the sixth consecutive year, while North Central achieved a season-high finish by tying for second at the Benedictine Fall Invitational, and Elmhurst secured runner-up finishes in two of their opening events.
 
IWU BREAKS THROUGH WITH FALL CLASSIC VICTORY
Illinois Wesleyan recorded their best two-round tournament score of 595, which secured top team honors at the IWU Fall Classic on Sept. 14 at the Ironwood Golf Course. The Titans won the event for the first time in the tournament's 25-year history by defeating second-place DePauw by three strokes … The Titans’ lowest single-round team score recorded was 297, which the team posted during the first round of the IWU Fall Classic. It’s the best single-round team score in the league this fall … Illinois Wesleyan recorded a total score of 928 in the three-round Redbird Invitational on Sept. 8. Competing primarily against Division I schools, the Titans finished in tenth place overall at the Weibring Golf Club and successfully defeated six Division I opponents during the event.
 
Sophomore Gigi Zera recorded the top individual two-round total score for IWU with a 146 (73-73) at the IWU Fall Classic. This score earned Zera a solo third-place finish in the event, and she was later named the CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week … Junior Emily Gastrau had the fourth-best individual two-round total score in the league this season, shooting 150 (72-78) at the IWU Fall Classic. Gastrau's first-round score of 72 was the lowest round posted by an IWU player in that tournament and earned her a tie for seventh place overall … Zera and Gastrau shared the lowest three-round total score for Illinois Wesleyan, each carding a 231 at the Redbird Invitational.
 
MANTEUFEL SHINES AS FIREBIRDS SOAR TO STRONG FALL START
Carthage placed second out of six teams at the CCIW Preview on Sept. 16, scoring a total of 327 (+43) at Metamora Fields Golf Club … The Firebirds carded rounds of 316 and 319 for a total score of 635 (+59) at the Wartburg Fall Invitational on Sept. 7, securing a fifth-place finish in a large 21-team field at Prairie Links … Carthage posted its best single-round of the fall with 306 during the first round of the IWU Fall Classic on Sept. 13. This effort helped the Firebirds place eighth overall out of 19 teams in the tournament with a total score of 638.
 
Lexi Manteufel logged the best two-round tournament score recorded by a CCIW student-athlete this fall at the Wartburg Fall Invitational, carding rounds of 72 and 72 for a total of 144. She claimed second place, coming up just one shot short of the leader … Manteufel also carded rounds of 77 and 72, leading the Firebirds with a total score of 149 during the season opener at the Firebird Fall Classic on Aug. 30. She tied for first place but ultimately finished in second due to the tiebreaker rules … Mae Norman registered a score of 157 at the Firebird Fall Classic, carding rounds of 76 and 81.
 
VIKINGS EXTEND HIGHLAND DYNASTY WITH SIXTH STRAIGHT TITLE
Augustana's total score of 614 at the season-opening Highland Championship on Sept. 1 is its best two-round tournament score recorded this fall. The effort allowed the Vikings to secure the tournament victory over 13 teams for the sixth consecutive year … Augustana also posted a team score of 300 during the second day of the Highland Championship, which is the Vikings’ lowest single-round score of the season … The Vikings tallied a score of 304 during the single-round CCIW Preview event held at Metamora Fields Golf Club. This score, Augie’s second-best single round of the fall, won the event.
 
Sarah Bond carded a winning score of 72 at the CCIW Preview. This score also tied for the fifth-best women's round score in Augustana school history … Bond's final tally of 152 (75 and 77) at the Highland Championship represents the lowest two-round total achieved by an Augustana golfer this season. She secured a second-place finish at the event … Lauren Reinertson shot an outstanding 69 during the second day of the Highland Championship. It’s the second-best women's round score in Augustana history and the top round in the league this season.
 
CLIFTON LEADS CARDINALS TO SEASON-BEST FINISH AT BENEDICTINE
North Central landed its highest placement of the season by tying for second place at the Benedictine Fall Invitational on Sept. 10. The Cardinals finished the single-round event with a score of 331, matching both St. Norbert and Aurora … The Cardinals started their season with a strong showing at the Carthage’s Ives Grove Firebird Fall Classic on Aug. 30, claiming fourth place out of 20 teams. The team's total score over the two-day event was 644, which stands as their lowest two-round tournament score this season … NCC finished tied for 14th place at the IWU Fall Classic on Sept. 14. North Central posted a total team score of 654 over the two rounds.
 
Senior Mallorie Clifton earned a final mark of 154 at the Ives Grove Classic, her best 36-hole score of the season. Shooting rounds of 80 and 74, she secured fifth place individually in the season opener … Clifton continued her impressive performances by finishing fourth place overall at the Benedictine Fall Invitational on Sept. 10. She carded a score of 78 in the single-round event, which secured her highest individual finish this season … Anna Meinhart helped the Cardinals during the Ives Grove Fall Classic by shooting rounds of 79 and 81 for an overall score of 160. This effort placed her 15th among 90 golfers in the tournament and included two birdies during her strong first round.
 
MILLIKIN POSTS TOP-THREE TEAM FINISHES TO START FALL SLATE
Millikin started the season on a high note by finishing fourth place at the Highland Classic The team's two-day total of 646 now sits as Millikin’s third all-time lowest score for a 36-hole team round, which included scores of 322 and 324 … The Big Blue posted a score of 322 during the first round of the Highland Classic. It was the fourth-lowest round for 18 holes in Millikin history … Millikin placed third in a field of six teams at the CCIW Preview on Sept. 16. MU finished the single-round event with a score of 328.
 
Sophomore Zoey Beard led the team at the Highland Classic by shooting rounds of 77 and 80 for a total of 157. Her performance secured a tie for eighth place overall in the tournament … Junior newcomer Ava Hackman started her MU career at the Highland Classic with a 77-82 performance, totaling 159 across the two rounds. This score earned her a tie for 11th place overall in the tournament … Ava Hackman shot an 80 on the first day of the Midwest Region Classic on Sept. 19, leading the team individually. Although the second round was canceled due to inclement weather, this score placed her 25th individually in the 39-team field.
 
SEKANY, LOSTETTER LEAD CARROLL TO TOP-FOUR FINISH AT JUDSON
Carroll delivered a solid performance by finishing fourth overall at the Judson Invitational in Huntley, Ill. on Sept. 3. The team carded a total score of +65 at the Pinecrest GCS event … The Pioneers began their season at the Highland Championship, finishing in seventh place … Carroll delivered a steady 11th-place performance by placing 11th overall in a field of 22 teams at the Benedictine Fall Invite on Sept. 10.
 
Sophomore Lynea Sekany led the Pioneers with a score of +11 at the Judson Invitational … Junior Lauren Lostetter finished close behind Sekany with a score of +13 at Judson … Sophomore Grace Knilans led the team at the Midwest Region Classic by shooting an 85 on the first day of play. She notched multiple birdies throughout her round, helping Carroll secure a 25th-place finish among the 39 participating teams.
 
BLUEJAYS RIDE CAREER-BEST ROUNDS TO EARLY SUCCESS
Elmhurst placed second out of 14 teams at the Judson Invitational on Sept. 3. The Bluejays trailed only host Judson, which won the team title with a score of 335. It marked the team's second consecutive runner-up finish to open the season … Elmhurst carded a team total of 335 to secure a fourth-place finish in the six-team field at the CCIW Preview held on Sept. 16 … The Bluejays were 11th out of 18 teams in the season-opening Ives Grove Firebird Classic on Aug. 30, concluding the two-round event with a total score of 679 (+103). This result represents the lowest two-round score for EU this season.
 
Elise Nelson carded a strong 77 (+5) during the opening round of the Ives Grove Firebird Classic, which stands as the lowest single round recorded by an Elmhurst golfer in the fall. Her consistent play earned her a tie for 15th place in the 90-golfer field … Hailey Vogt achieved a career-best round of 79 at the CCIW Preview, leading the Bluejays individually in the event. She tied for fifth place overall in the 39-player field, finishing just seven strokes behind the medalist … Laine Leonard posted an 83 at the Judson Invitational, which allowed her to secure a tie for fifth place overall and help pace Elmhurst to its runner-up finish. Leonard also carded an 83 at the CCIW Preview, earning her a tie for 13th place and joining Vogt in the top 15.
 
THUNDER GAIN IMPROVEMENT BEHIND LEE AND HARTNETT
Wheaton nailed down a sixth-place finish in the 14-team Judson Invitational on Sept. 3. The team tallied a combined score of 361 … Wheaton opened the season at Firebird Fall Classic on Aug. 30, placing 13th out of the 18 participating squads with a two-day team total of 711. The Thunder improved upon their opening round score by 17 strokes on the second day of action, dropping the mark from 364 to 347 … Wheaton landed 14th in the team standings at the Benedictine Fall Invitational on Sept. 10, competing in a field of 22 squads. Wheaton carded a total team score of 374 in the single-round tournament.
 
Emma Lee achieved the lowest two-round total score for a Wheaton golfer during the fall with a final mark of 169 in her collegiate debut at the Firebird Fall Classic. Her total was compiled from rounds of 87 and 82 (+10), which earned her a tie for 45th place in the 90-golfer field … Lee also recorded the best individual finish and lowest single-round score for Wheaton by claiming fourth place overall at Judson. She carded a score of 82 (+10), which was just five shots behind the tournament champion, marking her second consecutive team-best performance … Ava Hartnett posted a strong 87 (+15) tally at Judson. This performance resulted in Hartnett finishing in a tie for 12th place on the 83-player leaderboard.