Box Score Wheeling, W. Va. – After a long off-season, the Wheeling University Women's Golf team returns to the course on Sunday for their 2023 season opener. For the third season in a row, that opener will bring the team to CedarBrook Golf Course for the Vulcan Invitational. With a roster comprised completely of returners this season, the Women's Golf team will look to play off their experience as they head into 2023.

The 2022 fall season was a big one for the program, as it was the final send-off for legendary Women's Golf coach Sue Vail. The Cardinals were coming off an MEC Championship on 2021, and with that core returning, they were looking to make another run. They picked up right where they left off the year before, finishing top five in each of their first three tournaments of the season. However, weather was affecting them throughout the season, as two of those three tournaments got cut to one round. They finished fifth at both the Vulcan Invitational and the Gannon Invitational, and added a fourth place finish at the University of Charleston. They slipped in their final regular season invitational at Ashland University, but headed into the MEC Championships looking to rebound. They would finish fourth overall in the event and look to get back to the top three in 2023.

This season's roster consists of four returners from last year's club, looking to build on their success. Leading the way is the lone returning All-MEC player from 2022 in junior Nicole Lincicome was named Honorable Mention All-MEC for the second season in a row, and was the Cardinals second highest finisher at the MEC Championships. She placed 20th overall with a combined three round score of 265. She set a new career-low for an MEC Championship event, shooting an 82 in the second round of competition and looks to continue to be a leader for the team in 2023. The veteran of the group is senior Zoila Herrera, who returns for her fifth season as a a member of the Women's Golf team. She finished just outside the top 20, placing 21st overall with a combined 267 across the three-day event.

Also returning are a pair of sophomores in Ella Keffer and Mara Johnson. Johnson was the highest placer at last year's MEC Championship, tying with her teammate Herrera for 21st. She was the only Cardinal who improved her score across all three days, going from shooting a 92 on day one and finishing with an 87 on the final day of competition. Keffer competed as an individual at the MEC Championships, but rotated in and out of the Cardinals top five throughout the season. She shot a career-best 85 at the University of Charleston invitational, her first time in the Wheeling top five, and she looks to continue her growth. Both Johnson and Keffer will be Mainstays in the Cardinals top five this season and look to help push their club up the conference.

As they enter the 2023 season, the Cardinals will play four different tournaments leading up to the MEC Championships October 2nd through the 4th. Just like last season, the year will start with the Vulcan Invitational and then transition into the Charleston Invitational in week two. It gives the team a good transition from seeing some of the top teams in regional play to matching up with fellow MEC Conference opponents for the first time. Another MEC contest follows up the Charleston Invitational, as the team heads to the Davis & Elkins Invitational. With back-to-back weeks against conference opponents, the team will look to make adjustments as they prepare for the conference championship. They wrap up the regular season against Capital University at the Capital Fall Classic. They then head to the conference championship looking to live up to their #3 ranking in the MEC preseason poll.

The Tournament

2023 will be the third season in a row that the Wheeling Women's Golf team will start the season at the Vulcan Invitational. The event will take place at Cedarbrook Golf course in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, and will feature some of the top teams in the region. It features an 18-hole, par 71 course that offers several challenges for players. The Cardinals finished fifth overall at last season's event, which was cut to just one round, shooting a 344.

The Details

Round one of the Vulcan Invitational is scheduled to tee off at around 9 AM. You can follow along with live results by clicking HERE.