Huntley, Ill. -- Just four days after kicking off the 2025-26 season in Wisconsin, the Wheaton women's golf team returned to action closer to home this afternoon, as the Thunder hit the road again to participate in Judson University's Fall Invitational. Wheaton sent five student-athletes to the 14-team event, and these players secured a solid sixth-place finish in the team standings on Wednesday. The Thunder were once again led by freshman Emma Lee, who continued her strong start to her collegiate career by earning a top five placement on the tournament's individual leaderboard.

The hosting Eagles won Wednesday's single-round competition with a total count of 335, a comfortable nine strokes over runners-up Elmhurst. Wheaton tallied a combined team score of 361, coming in only five shots behind fifth-placed Carthage and an impressive 20 strokes in front of Rock Valley College in seventh place.

The rookie Lee finished fourth overall on today's 83-player table courtesy of a round score of 82 (+10), just one stroke behind a two-way tie for second on 81 and five shots behind the day's champion, who posted an 18-hole mark of 77. This marked the second-consecutive team-best performance for Lee after also earning the Thunder's lowest score at last weekend's Firebird Fall Invite.

Fellow freshman Ava Hartnett also had a strong day on the course, tying for 12th place following an 87 (+15) tally. Abby Crutchley carded a round score of 89 to earn a top 20 finish, while Abby Smith and Molly Holbert registered totals of 103 and 108, respectively.

After a positive midweek outing, the Thunder women's squad will now have the approaching weekend off from competition and will return to play in one week's time. Wheaton takes the short drive over to West Chicago next Wednesday morning to compete in Benedictine University's invitational at St. Andrews.