Friday, May 15
Maricopa, Ariz.
Rutgers University
vs
National Golf Invitational Championship
Photo by: Landon Ringler
Women's Golf Finishes Third at National Golf Invitational
May 15 | Women's Golf
MARICOPA, Ariz. – Rutgers women's golf wrapped up its 2025-26 season with a third-place result at the National Golf Invitational. Four Scarlet Knights – junior Emily James (13), redshirt senior Grace Lu (T14) sophomore Joline Truong (T16) and sophomore Judy Amano (T19) – all finished within the top 20 to highlight action at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.
RU closed the invitational in third place with a 28-over-par 892 (296-302-294), with its third-round score being its lowest of the weekend. Wyoming captured the team title with a nine-over-par 873 (287-289-297), followed by Denver (+17). Bowling Green's Addison Kartusch won the individual championship with a seven-under-par 209 (71-68-70).
"We battled hard today in tougher conditions," said head coach Kari Williams. "The winds picked up for the back nine but we held on to our rounds and finished with our lowest round of the event. We did a better job converting a few of our birdie opportunities, but still left some shots out there. The experience of competing in the postseason is important for our team and will help this group come back stronger in the fall."
This weekend's result marked the fourth top-three team finish of the spring and the fifth of the 2025-26 campaign. Rutgers finished with a national ranking of 80 under Williams, the best in program history, while producing its second-lowest team scoring average (297.25) heading into the NGI.
Day Three – Sunday, May 17
Weather: Sunny, Temps in the low-90s, 5-15 mph winds
Rutgers enjoyed its lowest team round of the tournament, with three Scarlet Knights carding lower rounds than on Saturday. James came in at one-over-par on the afternoon, using two birdies and 13 pars to close out Sunday with a one-over-par 73. Amano also added a 73 in the final round, rolling in three birdies to move up eight spots on the leaderboard.
Lu and Truong both produced two-over-par 74s in round three. Lu contributed a birdie on hole two and 14 pars to move up two spots to 14th, while Truong moved up three spots to 16th with two consecutive birdies on holes two and three to open up Sunday action.
Subbing in for the second consecutive round, junior Krystal Li rounded out the team scorecard with a six-over-par 78.
Day Two – Saturday, May 16
Weather: Sunny, Temps in the low-90s, 5-15 mph winds
Rutgers moved to third following Saturday's second round at the NGI. James (T13), Lu (T16) and Truong (T19) all were within the top 20 after two rounds of action.
The Scarlet Knights were third in the 10-team field with a 22-over-par 598 (296-302). Wyoming led with an even 576 (287-289), followed by Denver (+13). On the individual leaderboard, Kartusch held the top spot with a five-under-par 139 (71-68).
Lu moved up two spots thanks to her two-over-par 74, highlighted by birdies on holes six, eight and 13. James also enjoyed a solid round on Saturday with her three-over-par 75, adding a birdie on hole 14 and an eagle on the par-4 10th hole. Truong moved back 13 spots but still found herself within the top 20 of the field.
Amano carded birdies on holes two and 13 to finish with a four-over-par 76. Subbing into the lineup, Li contributed a five-over-par 77, matching Lu with three birdies on the afternoon.
Day One – Friday, May 15
Weather: Sunny, Temps in the low-90s, light winds
Rutgers closed out the opening round tied for second on Friday. Truong (6) and James (T7) both found themselves within the top 10 after the first 18 holes of play.
Truong carded an impressive even 72, highlighted by birdies on holes six and 14. James followed with her one-over-par 73, rolling in birdies on the second and 12th holes to go along with 14 pars.
"I played consistently today and was patient out there," Truong said. "My ball striking was good and I had a few good scoring opportunities. We're comfortable on this golf course and need to come out with confidence in the second round."
Lu is tied for 18th with a three-over-par 75. Amano is tied for 24th, and rookie Elizabeth Ryu is tied for 43rd to round out the team scoring.
"Joline and Emily had solid rounds for us today," Williams said after Friday's first round. "We settled into the round today but need to take advantage of our scoring opportunities tomorrow to close the gap on the leaderboard."
RU closed the invitational in third place with a 28-over-par 892 (296-302-294), with its third-round score being its lowest of the weekend. Wyoming captured the team title with a nine-over-par 873 (287-289-297), followed by Denver (+17). Bowling Green's Addison Kartusch won the individual championship with a seven-under-par 209 (71-68-70).
"We battled hard today in tougher conditions," said head coach Kari Williams. "The winds picked up for the back nine but we held on to our rounds and finished with our lowest round of the event. We did a better job converting a few of our birdie opportunities, but still left some shots out there. The experience of competing in the postseason is important for our team and will help this group come back stronger in the fall."
This weekend's result marked the fourth top-three team finish of the spring and the fifth of the 2025-26 campaign. Rutgers finished with a national ranking of 80 under Williams, the best in program history, while producing its second-lowest team scoring average (297.25) heading into the NGI.
Day Three – Sunday, May 17
Weather: Sunny, Temps in the low-90s, 5-15 mph winds
Rutgers enjoyed its lowest team round of the tournament, with three Scarlet Knights carding lower rounds than on Saturday. James came in at one-over-par on the afternoon, using two birdies and 13 pars to close out Sunday with a one-over-par 73. Amano also added a 73 in the final round, rolling in three birdies to move up eight spots on the leaderboard.
Lu and Truong both produced two-over-par 74s in round three. Lu contributed a birdie on hole two and 14 pars to move up two spots to 14th, while Truong moved up three spots to 16th with two consecutive birdies on holes two and three to open up Sunday action.
Subbing in for the second consecutive round, junior Krystal Li rounded out the team scorecard with a six-over-par 78.
Day Two – Saturday, May 16
Weather: Sunny, Temps in the low-90s, 5-15 mph winds
Rutgers moved to third following Saturday's second round at the NGI. James (T13), Lu (T16) and Truong (T19) all were within the top 20 after two rounds of action.
The Scarlet Knights were third in the 10-team field with a 22-over-par 598 (296-302). Wyoming led with an even 576 (287-289), followed by Denver (+13). On the individual leaderboard, Kartusch held the top spot with a five-under-par 139 (71-68).
Lu moved up two spots thanks to her two-over-par 74, highlighted by birdies on holes six, eight and 13. James also enjoyed a solid round on Saturday with her three-over-par 75, adding a birdie on hole 14 and an eagle on the par-4 10th hole. Truong moved back 13 spots but still found herself within the top 20 of the field.
Amano carded birdies on holes two and 13 to finish with a four-over-par 76. Subbing into the lineup, Li contributed a five-over-par 77, matching Lu with three birdies on the afternoon.
Day One – Friday, May 15
Weather: Sunny, Temps in the low-90s, light winds
Rutgers closed out the opening round tied for second on Friday. Truong (6) and James (T7) both found themselves within the top 10 after the first 18 holes of play.
Truong carded an impressive even 72, highlighted by birdies on holes six and 14. James followed with her one-over-par 73, rolling in birdies on the second and 12th holes to go along with 14 pars.
"I played consistently today and was patient out there," Truong said. "My ball striking was good and I had a few good scoring opportunities. We're comfortable on this golf course and need to come out with confidence in the second round."
Lu is tied for 18th with a three-over-par 75. Amano is tied for 24th, and rookie Elizabeth Ryu is tied for 43rd to round out the team scoring.
"Joline and Emily had solid rounds for us today," Williams said after Friday's first round. "We settled into the round today but need to take advantage of our scoring opportunities tomorrow to close the gap on the leaderboard."
| Rutgers | 296 (+8) | 302 (+14) | 294 (+6) | 892 (+28) | |
| Place | Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Final |
| 13 | Emily James | 73 (+1) | 75 (+3) | 73 (+1) | 221 (+5) |
| T14 | Grace Lu | 75 (+3) | 74 (+2) | 74 (+2) | 223 (+7) |
| T16 | Joline Truong | 72 (E) | 78 (+6) | 74 (+2) | 224 (+8) |
| T19 | Judy Amano | 76 (+4) | 76 (+4) | 73 (+1) | 225 (+9) |
| 48 | Krystal Li | N/A | 77 (+5) | 78 (+6) | 155 |
| 48 | Elizabeth Ryu | 80 (+8) | N/A | N/A | 80 |
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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