Women's Golf Opens Spring Season in Florida for the El Campeon Collegiate

Monday, February 23

Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. (Mission Inn Resort)

All Day

Bucknell University

El Campeon Collegiate

Photo by: Lauren Medeiros

Women's Golf Opens Spring Season in Florida for the El Campeon Collegiate

2/22/2026 12:51:00 PM | Women's Golf

Setting The Scene
What: 2026 El Campeon Collegiate
When: Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 23-24
Where: Par-72, Mission Resort & Club El Campeon Course, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida
The Field: 10 teams (Bellarmine, Bethune-Cookman, Bucknell, Illinois-Chicago, Lehigh, Longwood Navy, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Providence, USC Upstate)

LIVE SCORING

Bucknell is down in Florida to start the spring slate, and the Bison kick off 2026 at the par-72 El Campeon Course at the Mission Resort and Club.

The Bison will have five players in the lineup this week: freshman Joelle Johnson, senior Paige Richter, sophomore Sophia Bardunias, junior Nicole Yun, and junior Katherine Vice. Junior Lila Smith and sophomore Katrina von Behren will compete as individuals.

The 2025-26 season has already been historic after an incredible fall season. The Bison won three tournaments, a 36- and 54-hole team record and six Patriot League Golfers of the Week.
Richter and Johnson were named Golfer of the Week twice, and Vice and Bardunias won the award once.

Bucknell opened its fall season with back-to-back tournament wins for the first time in program history. The Bison dominated at home in the Bucknell Invitational, defeating the field of 17 teams by 33 strokes. Bucknell then won by two strokes at the Battle at the Creek in a field of 15 teams with an 899. The Bison capped off the fall slate with a win at the Red Flash Invitational.

Bucknell's three tournament wins were the most in program history for a single season, and the Bison accomplished that feat in just the fall season. Bucknell's six PL Golfers of the Week are the most in a single season for the Bison.

"The girls still have high expectations about continuing their good play, which is awesome," said head coach Laura Tyler-Cook. "Even though it's been so cold, we've been able to practice indoors and they've been really doing well. They're as prepared as they can be, so it's just a matter of now putting it all together on the golf course."

Vice and Johnson tied for first at the Bucknell Invitational, and Vice won the trophy in a playoff. Johnson came in second place at the Battle at the Creek. The Bison had six rounds that are in Bucknell's all-time top-10 for a single round. Individually, the Bison had 17 top-10 finishes in the fall.

Johnson led the team in the fall with a 74.1 average over the five events. She posted four top-10 finishes and shot one round under par.

Richter played in three events in the fall, making the top-10 of the individual field in each event. She was second on the team with a 74.9 average.

Bardunias had four top-10 finishes in the fall with a 75.2 average. Yun averaged a 75.7 with two top-10 finishes. Vice averaged a 76.4 in all five events. Smith averaged a 78.0 and von Behren averaged a 78.3.

The Bison recently installed a PuttView in the Bachman Golf Center for both ethe men's and women's team. The system allows the Bison to train with a realistic environment, especially in the cold winter months.

"We've been able to do so much with the system, and it helps with our ability to read putts and see the speed and lines, said Tyler-Cook. "There's just so much you can do and its been a great training tool for us in the winter."