Northwestern University Women's Golf Team Opens 2025-26 Season at ANNIKA Intercollegiate

Strategic Insights -

After capturing the program's first national championship in May, the Northwestern University women's golf team is set to start the 2025-26 season at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. The tournament, founded by LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam and the ANNIKA Foundation in 2014, aims to bridge the gap between junior and professional golf. The Wildcats will compete against a star-studded field, including Arizona State, Cal Berkeley, Duke, Minnesota, Oregon, Pepperdine, San Jose State, Texas, USC, South Carolina, and Wake Forest, with the winning team receiving an exemption into The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, an LPGA event in November. Northwestern head coach Emily Fletcher, the WGCA National Coach of the Year, will lead the team, consisting of five returning players from the national championship winning squad.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Northwestern University women's golf team, under the guidance of head coach Emily Fletcher, is set to compete in the ANNIKA Intercollegiate tournament, its first event of the 2025-26 season.
  • The ANNIKA Intercollegiate, founded in 2014, aims to bridge the gap between junior and professional golf, with the winning team receiving an exemption into The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, an LPGA event in November.
  • The Wildcats will face a challenging field, including top collegiate golf teams such as Arizona State, Cal Berkeley, Duke, Minnesota, Oregon, Pepperdine, San Jose State, Texas, USC, South Carolina, and Wake Forest.
  • Northwestern's lineup includes Arianna Lau, Hsin Tai Lin, Dianna Lee, Ashley Yun, Megan Meng, who all contributed to the team's national championship win in May.
  • The team returned with ten top-five finishes across ten events last season, including victories at the St Andrews Links Collegiate Stroke Play and the Silverado Showdown.

Statistics:

  • The ANNIKA Intercollegiate will feature a field of 12 top collegiate golf teams competing in the 2025-26 season.
  • The winning team will receive an exemption into The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, an LPGA event in November.
  • The Northwestern University women's golf team had 10 top-five finishes across 10 events in the 2024-25 season.
  • The team won the St Andrews Links Collegiate Stroke Play and the Silverado Showdown tournaments during the 2024-25 season.
  • Northwestern head coach Emily Fletcher was named the WGCA National Coach of the Year.

Sources:

  • Northwestern University Athletics
  • ANNIKA Foundation
  • LPGA