Metamora, Ill. -- The 2026 CCIW Women's Golf Championship began on Thursday, and all six Wheaton players on this season's roster are taking part in the three-day tournament, which is being held at the Metamora Fields Golf Club for the fourth-straight season. This weekend's championship consists of three rounds played on consecutive days with eight participating teams. The Thunder are currently in seventh place after the first 18 holes and were led by 2025 All-Conference performer Emma Lee today, who posted the team's leading score in the opening round. 

Four-time defending conference champion Illinois Wesleyan University leads the field after the tournament's first section thanks to a combined team score of 296 (+12). Carthage College registered a 301 (+17) total this afternoon to establish a second-placed standing, and the Firebirds have an 18-stroke advantage over Augustana College in third place on 319.

Wheaton entered the Day 1 clubhouse on a cumulative mark of 350 and is 16 shots ahead of Elmhurst University in eighth. The Thunder will begin tomorrow's round 17 strokes behind sixth-placed Carroll University.

Wheaton's score at this year's tournament will be determined by its four highest-finishing players, and Lee led the squad on Thursday with a round total of 82 (+11) that puts her in a tie for 17th place on the 48-woman leaderboard.

Abby Crutchley, Ava Hartnett, and Abi Edwards completed the first round with similar scores, as the former two each registered an 89 to tie in 34th place and Edwards came in one stroke behind them on 90 as part of a four-player tie for 37th.

The senior duo of Molly Holbert and Abby Smith began their final CCIW Championship appearances with respective tallies of 97 and 103 this afternoon.

Friday's second round will tee off at 9:00 AM in central Illinois with Wheaton among the first teams to start the day's play.