Completed Event: Women's Golf at Badger Invitational - Round One on September 13, 2026 , , T-2nd/16
Final
Women's Golf
Badger Invitational - Round One
T-2nd/16
Iowa State University Athletics
Tuesday, September 15
Madison, Wis.
10:00 AM
Iowa State
at
Badger Invitational - Round Three
Emma Zheng and the Cyclonitas Win the Badger Invitational
09.15.2026 | Women's Golf
MADISON, Wis. - Competing in her first career tournament, Emma Zheng became the first freshman in ISU history to win a season opener. Zheng finished the Badger Invitational at -7, shooting even or under-par in all three of her rounds (72-69-68). The Cyclonitas picked up their first team win of the season with help from two other Cyclones finishing in the Top-10, adding to what now makes five victories since the start of 2026, the most in a calendar year in program history. Iowa State (283-289-285=857, -7) held off a Northwestern rally to pick up the win by four strokes. ISU's 54-hole score of 857 ties the 15th-lowest in school history.
Zheng starts her ISU career off with a bang, recording rounds in the 60's in the second and final round. The freshman tied the lowest score on Par 4's (-2), tied the third-lowest score on Par 5's (-5) and tied for the fifth-most birdies in the field with 11 while also recording her first career eagle in the final round. Nichakorn Pinprayoon ties for fifth at even-par, her eighth Top-5 finish of her career. With her final birdie of the day, Pinprayoon crossed the 250-career birdie threshold. The junior finished Top-10 in Par 3 scoring at even-par and tied for fifth in birdies (11).
Alexandra Vidal shot a 69 in the final round, her fifth career sub-70 round, to jump 17 spots to tie for eighth (+1), a career-best finish. Vidal tied for first in the tournament in Par 4 scoring with Zheng (-2), and carded 10 birdies the past three days. Krittiya Thanintorndamrongdej recorded her best career finish, tying for 12th at two-over par. The Eastern Michigan transfer shot a career-best round of 71 in the first round, carded a career-low 54 hole score of 218, and tied for seventh in Par 5 scoring (4.87). Thanintorndamrongdej totaled seven birdies at the Badger Invitational.
Isabella Yan finishes in the Top-25 for the ninth time in her career, tying for 24th (+6). The junior tied for third in Par 5 scoring average (4.67) and tallied the second-most pars in the field (39). Aelisa Twiltermsup wraps up her first career tournament, tying for 65th as an individual. Twiltermsup totaled five birdies across her three rounds.
Iowa State finished Top-5 in all statistical categories the past three days, most notably carding the lowest Par 4 scoring average (4.07) and most pars (181), while finishing second in Par 5 scoring (4.81) and birdies recorded (44).
Up next for the Cyclonitas is a trip to Norman, Okla. to compete in the Schooner Fall Classic. The tournament will start on Saturday, Sep. 19th and conclude on Monday, Sep. 21st.
Iowa State Scorecard
1 - Emma Zheng - 72-69-68 = 209Â (-7)
T5 - Nichakorn Pinprayoon - 68-72-76 = 216 (E)
T8 - Alexandra Vidal - 72-76-69 = 217 (+1)
T12 - Krittiya Thanintorndamrongdej - 71-75-72 = 218 (+2)
T24 - Isabella Yan - 73-73-76 = 222 (+6)
Iowa State Individual Scorecard
T65 - Aelisa Twiltermsup - 79-76-77 = 232 (+16)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Monday, May 12
Monday, May 12
Thursday, April 25
Wednesday, April 24
