West Chicago, Ill. -- Two weeks after starting its second semester schedule at the Judson Invitational, the Wheaton women's golf team returned to competition by taking the short drive over to St. Andrew's Golf & Country Club on Monday for the Benedictine University Spring Invitational. The Thunder placed 11th in the 14-team, single-round event and were led by freshman Emma Lee, who tied for 24th on the 82-woman leaderboard after carding the best round of the five Wheaton golfers who participated in today's tournament.

The competition was won by one of two squads from Aurora University, with the leading Spartans group finishing a convincing 14 strokes ahead of runners-up Judson University. The Thunder registered a combined team total of 385 in Monday's tournament to come in 11th place. Wheaton, one of three CCIW programs to take part in the event along with Carroll and Elmhurst, finished the day's action seven shots behind Rock Valley College in tenth place and six strokes in front of Joliet Junior College in 12th.

The All-CCIW honoree Lee tallied an 18-hole mark of 87 (+15) this afternoon to secure a top-25 finish in the solo standings, continuing her strong debut campaign with Wheaton's top score of the day.

Fellow rookie Abby Crutchley carded a 93 (+21) in Monday's round to sneak inside the top 40 of the leaderboard. Abby Smith posted a round score of 100 even, while Abi Edwards finished on a 105 tally. Molly Holbert was five strokes behind Edwards on a mark of 110.

Wheaton's squad has the rest of the week off from competition and will finish up its 2025-26 season next Monday in Wisconsin at the Carthage College Spring Invite.