Bucknell University Athletics
Monday, October 19
Richmond, Va.
All Day
Bucknell University
at
Spider Invitational
Women's Golf Travels to State of Virginia for Final Two Fall Events, Starting Monday at Richmond
10/18/2026 4:47:00 PM | Women's Golf
Setting The Scene
What:Â 2026 Spider Invitational
When:Â Monday-Tuesday, October 19-20
Where:Â Par-72 (6,175 yards) Independence GC, Midlothian, Va.
The Field:Â 7 teams: Bucknell, Florida Atlantic, Longwood, Navy, Old Dominion (individuals), Richmond, Rollins, William & Mary
LIVE SCORING
Bucknell wraps up the 2026 fall season with two more tournaments in the state of Virginia. The Bison travel to Richmond for the Spider Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, and then next week they head to Charlottesville for the Keswick Cup.
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This week's event at Independence Golf Club features a small seven-team field, plus some individuals from Old Dominion. This course played host to the 2023 Patriot League Championship when Richmond was an associate member of the league, but no current Bison was on that team. Bucknell shot 307-301-299 in a fifth-place finish, led by a T-7th from Paige Richter.
This week's lineup features Joelle Johnson, Sophia Bardunias, Nicole Yun, Mattea Issa, and Rayne Ripperger. Johnson is the reigning Patriot League Golfer of the Week after her fourth-place finish last week at Quinnipiac.
After setting many records in accomplishments in 2025-26, the Bison have rewritten the record book once again this fall. After finishing mid-pack at Penn State to start the season, Bucknell won back-to-back tournaments – its own invitational followed by the Golf Galaxy Collegiate – and then finished second last week at the Quinnipiac Classic.
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At the Nittany Lion Invitational, the Bison set and 18-, 36- and 54-hole record led by five individual rounds under par in the tournament. The Bison finished the second and third rounds at 1-under-par to mark the first rounds in program history under par for the Bison.
On top of the three records, freshman Mattea Issa carded the lowest score in program history with a 5-under-par 67. She became the first Bison to finish a tournament under par, ending the tournament at 4-under-par.
The Bison had a quick turnaround, beginning the Bucknell Invitational just three days later. The momentum continued as the Bison gutted out a team championship that came down to the final few holes. The Bison also beat the 18-, 36- and 54-hole records set at the Nittany Lion Invitational. Although the records are not the lowest in relation to par at the par-70 Bucknell Golf Club, the Bison bested the 18-hole score by six strokes, and the 36-hole record by eight strokes.
Johnson was crowned the champion at the Bucknell Invitational for her first career individual win. The sophomore carded a two-under-par 68 in the final round, and held off a late comeback by Columbia.
The Bison made it back-to-back team championships at the Golf Galaxy Collegiate, besting the field of seven teams by 18 strokes. All six Bison competing finished in the top-12 of the individual standings, and Johnson took second for her third career second-place finish. Bardunias took third in the tournament.
Bucknell's back-to-back wins marked the second time in program history accomplishing that feat. The Bison earned consecutive wins for the first time last season. Â
Last Time Out at the Quinnipiac Classic
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What:Â 2026 Spider Invitational
When:Â Monday-Tuesday, October 19-20
Where:Â Par-72 (6,175 yards) Independence GC, Midlothian, Va.
The Field:Â 7 teams: Bucknell, Florida Atlantic, Longwood, Navy, Old Dominion (individuals), Richmond, Rollins, William & Mary
LIVE SCORING
Bucknell wraps up the 2026 fall season with two more tournaments in the state of Virginia. The Bison travel to Richmond for the Spider Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, and then next week they head to Charlottesville for the Keswick Cup.
Â
This week's event at Independence Golf Club features a small seven-team field, plus some individuals from Old Dominion. This course played host to the 2023 Patriot League Championship when Richmond was an associate member of the league, but no current Bison was on that team. Bucknell shot 307-301-299 in a fifth-place finish, led by a T-7th from Paige Richter.
This week's lineup features Joelle Johnson, Sophia Bardunias, Nicole Yun, Mattea Issa, and Rayne Ripperger. Johnson is the reigning Patriot League Golfer of the Week after her fourth-place finish last week at Quinnipiac.
After setting many records in accomplishments in 2025-26, the Bison have rewritten the record book once again this fall. After finishing mid-pack at Penn State to start the season, Bucknell won back-to-back tournaments – its own invitational followed by the Golf Galaxy Collegiate – and then finished second last week at the Quinnipiac Classic.
Â
At the Nittany Lion Invitational, the Bison set and 18-, 36- and 54-hole record led by five individual rounds under par in the tournament. The Bison finished the second and third rounds at 1-under-par to mark the first rounds in program history under par for the Bison.
On top of the three records, freshman Mattea Issa carded the lowest score in program history with a 5-under-par 67. She became the first Bison to finish a tournament under par, ending the tournament at 4-under-par.
The Bison had a quick turnaround, beginning the Bucknell Invitational just three days later. The momentum continued as the Bison gutted out a team championship that came down to the final few holes. The Bison also beat the 18-, 36- and 54-hole records set at the Nittany Lion Invitational. Although the records are not the lowest in relation to par at the par-70 Bucknell Golf Club, the Bison bested the 18-hole score by six strokes, and the 36-hole record by eight strokes.
Johnson was crowned the champion at the Bucknell Invitational for her first career individual win. The sophomore carded a two-under-par 68 in the final round, and held off a late comeback by Columbia.
The Bison made it back-to-back team championships at the Golf Galaxy Collegiate, besting the field of seven teams by 18 strokes. All six Bison competing finished in the top-12 of the individual standings, and Johnson took second for her third career second-place finish. Bardunias took third in the tournament.
Bucknell's back-to-back wins marked the second time in program history accomplishing that feat. The Bison earned consecutive wins for the first time last season. Â
Last Time Out at the Quinnipiac Classic
- Bucknell finished a comfortable second at The Farms CC in Wallingford, Conn., last week. Host Quinnipiac posted a 1-under 878 over 54 holes to run away with the team title. The Bison were second at 915, with third-place Manhattan another 26 shots back at 941.
- Johnson was once again the low Bison with rounds of 71-75-76, and her 6-over total of 222 was goof for a fourth-place finish, behind only three Quinnipiac players. Bardunias finished T-7th with 75-75-77, and Yun placed 10th with 79-75-74.
- Entering the 2025-26 season, the Bison had just 10 team wins dating back to 1998. Since the beginning of last season, the Bison have six team wins at tournaments.
- The Bison women have consistently carded scored in the 70s, and 10 golfers have an average of 79.0 or lower.
- Johnson leads the team with a 72.6 average through 12 rounds with three rounds going under par. Bardunias is second on the team with a 73.9 average.
- Head Coach Laura Tyler-Cook was named the 2026 Patriot League Coach of the Year. Joelle Johnson was named the 2026 Rookie of the Year. Sophia Bardunias, Paige Richter and Nicole Yun were named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team. Bardunias was a First Team All-Patriot League selection, and Yun, Richter and Johnson were all Second Team All-Patriot League selections. The Bison took home 10 Patriot League Golfer of the Week awards.
- 18-Hole Record – 281
- 36-Hole Record – 566 (bested record by six strokes)
- 54-Hole Record – 860 (bested previous record by 13 strokes)
- Achieved multiple golfers under par in a single round for the first time in program history at the Nittany Lion Invitational
- Single Round Record – Mattea Issa: 67
- Lowest Round in Relation to Par – Mattea Issa: 5-under-par
- Mattea Issa: First Bison to finish a tournament under par
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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Sunday, October 18
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