Central Michigan University Athletics
Wednesday, February 11
Litchfield Park, Ariz. (Wigwam Golf Club)
Central Michigan University
at
BGSU Invitational at Wigwam
Junior Rachel Niskanen posted her fourth career top-10 finish in leading the CMU women's golf team at the BGSU Invitational in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Photo by: Joe Grogan '25 - @leazier.media
Niskanen Leads Women's Golf With Career Day; CMU Finishes 6th in 15-Team Field in Arizona
2/11/2026 9:35:00 PM | Women's Golf
Chippewas set program 18- and 54-hole scoring records; Niskanen's final-round 69 and 54-hole 216 rank as second best in program history
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Career bests for Rachel Niskanen, and a very good start to the spring for the Central Michigan women's golf team.
Niskanen shot a 2-under 69 to tie for eighth place with a 216 total on Wednesday, leading the Chippewas during the final round of the BGSU Intercollegiate at Wigwam Golf & Country Club.
The Chippewas posted a 299 team score to finish with an 885 total and in sixth place in the 15-team field.
The 885 is a program record for a 54-hole event. The Chippewas' second-round 287 is also a program record, and their 36-hole 586 total was one shot shy of the program best.
"It was a good performance both days," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "Finishing sixth in that field was good. It kind of sparks us and makes us more hungry for the rest of the spring and that's exactly what we're looking for, a good performance and some confidence, but at the same time, being a little disappointed about leaving some shots out there here and there and letting some teams beat us that we wanted to get.
"That puts that in your head and gets you ready to go. We're excited about that."
It was a career day for Niskanen, a junior from Negaunee. Her 69 is her best aggregate score and her 2-under is her best in relation to par. Her 216 total ranks as her career best for 54 holes as she posted her third career top-10 finish and her second of the 2025-26 season after her T7 at the 36-hole Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic in September.
Niskanen's 69 is one shot off the program record for 18-hole aggregate score and it tied medalist Amelia Fridlund of UTEP for the low round of the day. Fridlun finished with a 3-under 213 to claim medalist honors.
Niskanen's 216 total is one shot shy of the program 54-hole record for aggregate score. She began the final round tied for 25th and moved up 17 spots, the second-largest leap in the field. She made five birdies against three bogeys. Three of her birdies came on the back 9 as she played her final eight holes in 3-under par.
"She played really solid today," Williams said. "The course was set up a lot tougher today than it was (Tuesday). There were some tricky pins. Some spots where you kind of had to be patient and take what it gave you.
"But there were still a lot of opportunities out there, and she capitalized on those. I think it was a lot about just keeping a good attitude, staying patient, staying positive, and striking when she had an opportunity. It was really great to see."
Also for the Chippewas on Wednesday, freshman Zoe Dull closed with a 4-over 75 for a 223 total and a tie for 23rd; Brooke Morris shot 76 and finished at 226; Ella Zanatta shot 79 and also finished at 226; Lexi Schulman shot 79 and finished at 225; and Alexis McMurray, playing as an individual, carded an 82 and finished at 229.
Schulman finished T30, Zanatta and Morris finished among a group tied for 32nd, and McMurray finished T43.
The Chippewas made 38 birdies in the tournament, tying for the second most in the field, and they had 52 bogeys, the second fewest.
"Really happy to see some low rounds from each of them, each one of them had some really great rounds out there," Williams said. "They played freely. They played with confidence. They played aggressive when they needed to and when they could. When that happens, it's really good to see.
"It helps build some confidence for us going forward and it's always good to find that you can go out and play well and be aggressive and make birdies."
CMU finished two shots behind fellow Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green (883) and ahead of the other two MAC teams in the field, Northern Illinois and Toledo.
Fridlund led UTEP to a final-round 295 team score as the Miners claimed the team title with an 863 total. UT Arlington (869) finished second.
Niskanen shot a 2-under 69 to tie for eighth place with a 216 total on Wednesday, leading the Chippewas during the final round of the BGSU Intercollegiate at Wigwam Golf & Country Club.
The Chippewas posted a 299 team score to finish with an 885 total and in sixth place in the 15-team field.
The 885 is a program record for a 54-hole event. The Chippewas' second-round 287 is also a program record, and their 36-hole 586 total was one shot shy of the program best.
"It was a good performance both days," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "Finishing sixth in that field was good. It kind of sparks us and makes us more hungry for the rest of the spring and that's exactly what we're looking for, a good performance and some confidence, but at the same time, being a little disappointed about leaving some shots out there here and there and letting some teams beat us that we wanted to get.
"That puts that in your head and gets you ready to go. We're excited about that."
It was a career day for Niskanen, a junior from Negaunee. Her 69 is her best aggregate score and her 2-under is her best in relation to par. Her 216 total ranks as her career best for 54 holes as she posted her third career top-10 finish and her second of the 2025-26 season after her T7 at the 36-hole Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic in September.
Niskanen's 69 is one shot off the program record for 18-hole aggregate score and it tied medalist Amelia Fridlund of UTEP for the low round of the day. Fridlun finished with a 3-under 213 to claim medalist honors.
Niskanen's 216 total is one shot shy of the program 54-hole record for aggregate score. She began the final round tied for 25th and moved up 17 spots, the second-largest leap in the field. She made five birdies against three bogeys. Three of her birdies came on the back 9 as she played her final eight holes in 3-under par.
"She played really solid today," Williams said. "The course was set up a lot tougher today than it was (Tuesday). There were some tricky pins. Some spots where you kind of had to be patient and take what it gave you.
"But there were still a lot of opportunities out there, and she capitalized on those. I think it was a lot about just keeping a good attitude, staying patient, staying positive, and striking when she had an opportunity. It was really great to see."
Also for the Chippewas on Wednesday, freshman Zoe Dull closed with a 4-over 75 for a 223 total and a tie for 23rd; Brooke Morris shot 76 and finished at 226; Ella Zanatta shot 79 and also finished at 226; Lexi Schulman shot 79 and finished at 225; and Alexis McMurray, playing as an individual, carded an 82 and finished at 229.
Schulman finished T30, Zanatta and Morris finished among a group tied for 32nd, and McMurray finished T43.
The Chippewas made 38 birdies in the tournament, tying for the second most in the field, and they had 52 bogeys, the second fewest.
"Really happy to see some low rounds from each of them, each one of them had some really great rounds out there," Williams said. "They played freely. They played with confidence. They played aggressive when they needed to and when they could. When that happens, it's really good to see.
"It helps build some confidence for us going forward and it's always good to find that you can go out and play well and be aggressive and make birdies."
CMU finished two shots behind fellow Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green (883) and ahead of the other two MAC teams in the field, Northern Illinois and Toledo.
Fridlund led UTEP to a final-round 295 team score as the Miners claimed the team title with an 863 total. UT Arlington (869) finished second.
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Players Mentioned
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