Niskanen, Schulman Lead Women's Golf in Opening Round at Rio Verde

Friday, February 20

Rio Verde, Ariz. (Rio Verde Country Club)

Noon

Central Michigan University

Rio Verde Collegiate

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

Niskanen, Schulman Lead Women's Golf in Opening Round at Rio Verde

2/21/2026 12:06:00 AM | Women's Golf

Leaderboard

By: Andy Sneddon

RIO VERDE, Ariz. – Rachel Niskanen shot a 3-over par 75 and Lexi Schulman posted a 4-over 76 on Friday to lead the Central Michigan women's golf team during the first round of the Rio Verde Collegiate at Rio Verde Country Club.

The second round of the three-day, 54-hole, stroke-play event is scheduled for Saturday with a noon (ET) shotgun start. The final round is set for Sunday.

Niskanen and Schulman led the Chippewas to a 309 team score. CMU is in 13^th place in the 19-team field.

Xavier and Wichita State lead the tournament after posting matching 292 totals. Host Western Michigan (296) is third.

Also for the Chippewas on Friday, Ella Zanatta shot a 5-over 77, Zoe Dull posted an 81, and Brooke Morris carded an 83.

Niskanen is tied for 23^rd, Schulman is tied for 33^rd, and Zanatta is tied for 43^rd in the 95-player field.

Manon Guille of Wichita State and Isabel Brozena of Xavier share the first-round lead at 3-under, one shot ahead of Western Michigan's Megha Vallabhaneni.