Grinnell Women’s Golf Named Preseason No. 2 in SLIAC Poll
Grinnell College’s women’s golf team has been selected as the No. 2 team in the 2026 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) preseason poll, announced by the conference. The Owls are coming off their best-ever finish in the league and return four of five players from last year’s lineup, including three All-SLIAC finishers.
The Pioneers received 100 points and 10 first-place votes in the poll, placing them as the favorite to win the conference. Head Coach Connor McKay’s squad features a mix of experienced players and newcomers. Highlights include multiple-time All-Conference players Emily Lackershire, Saya Geisendorfer, and Waverly Yang. The team also welcomes back Meilin Hoshino, a two-time Player of the Year who was sidelined last year due to injury. Hoshino holds the conference record for lowest round and season average.
Joining the returning stars are new additions Madison Chen, Coco He, Samantha Ngyuen, and Caroline Hoang. The team aims to build on its recent success as it prepares for the upcoming season.
Maryville University was picked second in the poll with 82 points. Head Coach Benji Williams returns three All-Conference golfers: senior Ashley Estabrook, senior Isabel Velazquez, and senior Addi Campbell. Estabrook posted an 84.6 scoring average last year, while Campbell averaged 85.2 and Velazquez 86.8. The program also welcomes freshmen Leah Mills and two transfer students—Reagan Darden and Zae’Ja Davis—to bolster its roster.
Illinois College was third with 79 points. Head Coach will focus his lineup around Shelby Seiler, a senior who averaged 84.5 last season and secured one tournament win. Freshmen Leah Mills and Riley Ramsey are expected to compete for spots on the team. Lyon College was fourth with 69 points, led by returners Austyn Teufel, Zoe Anderson, and Jacey Holder, along with newcomers Tanner Durham and Sajani Sharma. Spalding University finished fifth with 64 points, fielding a young squad led by new players Emma Young, Kendall Thomas, Taylor Young, Erin Eggar, Makenna Roush, and Tatum Riddiough.
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