Women’s Golf: Strong finish sets the stage for next season

Northwestern women’s golf entered the 2025-26 season as the defending national champions with aspirations of going back-to-back. The program faced significant roster turnover following its title run. Lauryn Nguyen, the team’s top player and leader, graduated and turned professional, while Elise Lee transferred to USC after her first season in Evanston. Lee enjoyed a successful year with the Trojans, helping them finish as national runners-up.

class="has-text-align-none">Despite those departures, the ‘Cats once again proved they belonged among the nation’s elite. Northwestern captured team titles at the Windy City Collegiate Classic and the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational while adding three more top-four finishes throughout the season. One of those came at the Ann Arbor Regional, where a fourth-place finish secured the team’s place at the NCAA Championships.

class="has-text-align-none">At nationals, Fletcher’s squad battled through the 30-team field to advance to the final day of stroke play. The defending champions ultimately finished 14th in the country, an impressive result considering the youth of the roster and the personnel changes from the previous season.

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style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 14px; width: 144px;">One of the biggest additions entering the year was Arianna Lau, a top-35-ranked amateur who arrived in Evanston after reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Lau quickly established herself as one of Northwestern’s top performers, recording top-20 finishes in all four of her fall tournaments. Her fall campaign included three top-nine finishes and a top-five result at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.

class="has-text-align-none">However, Lau departed after the fall season and returned to Hong Kong to attend the University of Hong Kong. While losing a player of her caliber was a setback, the ‘Cats had enough depth to remain competitive throughout the spring.

class="has-text-align-none">Leading the way was senior Dianna Lee. After sinking the putt that secured Northwestern’s national championship a season earlier, Lee delivered another outstanding campaign. The California native captured the East Lake Cup title, led the team with a 72.85 scoring average and recorded three top-five finishes. Her efforts earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors. Lee now concludes her collegiate career as one of the most accomplished players in program history and will now head to the pros.

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style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 14px; width: 144px;">Ashley Yun put together a strong junior season and finished second on the team with a 73.80 scoring average. Her best performance came at the Ann Arbor regional, where she took home the individual title. Yun added seven top-25 finishes and appears well-positioned to become one of Northwestern’s leaders next season.

class="has-text-align-none">Sophomore Megan Meng emerged as a key contributor in her first season as a full-time starter. She tied for 11th at the Windy City Collegiate Classic, recorded six top-25 finishes and posted a 74.16 scoring average. Meng’s continued development gives the ‘Cats another experienced player to build around moving forward.

class="has-text-align-none">Hsin Tai Lin completed her sophomore campaign after spending both seasons in the starting lineup. The Taiwan native’s best finish was a tie for 16th at the East Lake Cup. She finished the year with a 74.85 scoring average and three top-25 finishes, providing steady play throughout the season.

class="has-text-align-none">Lauren E. Lee stepped into the lineup after Lau’s departure and gained valuable experience during her first year with the program. Her best result came at the Buckeye Invitational, where she tied for 38th. Lee also recorded three rounds at par or better and will look to take another step forward as a sophomore.

class="has-text-align-none">Senior Jiayi Wang competed in three events during the season. Her top finish came at the Windy City Collegiate Classic, where she placed 40th.

class="has-text-align-none">The future remains bright for Northwestern as it prepares to welcome four newcomers next season, including a pair of transfers from the University of St. Andrews.

class="has-text-align-none">Judy Joo arrives with two years of eligibility remaining and a career-high World Amateur Golf Ranking of No. 249. The South Korean native has recorded six top-12 finishes in her last nine starts and should immediately compete for a place in the starting five.

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style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 14px; width: 144px;">Joining her is Emilie Knai, a native of France who enters the program in excellent form. Knai has posted top-10 finishes in each of her last 11 starts, highlighted by a victory at the Stirling Invitational. She is expected to challenge for a lineup spot right away and provide another experienced option for Fletcher’s squad.

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style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 14px; width: 144px;">The ‘Cats are also adding two highly regarded first-year players in Ann-Sophie Bourgault and Rebecca Wang. Bourgault, a Canadian standout currently ranked No. 405 in the world amateur rankings, won the Fort Myers Junior Open and recorded several other notable finishes on the junior circuit. Fletcher has expressed confidence that she can make an immediate impact in Evanston.

class="has-text-align-none">Wang arrives from China after placing 23rd at the 2025 Girls Junior PGA Championship. She gives Northwestern another talented young player who could contribute early in her collegiate career.

class="has-text-align-none">While the roster will feature plenty of new faces next season, the foundation of the program remains exceptionally strong. Northwestern has produced back-to-back top-14 national finishes, including the 2025 national championship, and Fletcher continues to establish the ‘Cats as one of the premier programs in college golf. With experienced returners and a talented incoming class, the Wildcats appear well-positioned to remain among the nation’s best in 2026-27.