Bucknell University Athletics
Monday, September 7
University Park, Pa.
All Day
Bucknell University
at
Nittany Lion Invitational
Women's Golf Sets 18- and 36-Hole Records in First Two Rounds of Nittany Lion Invitational
9/7/2026 8:22:00 PM | Women's Golf
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Bucknell women's golf team fired a record-setting, 1-under-par 287 in the second round of the Nittany Lion Invitational as the Bison sit in 10th place after the first two rounds on Monday. As a team, the Bison went under par in a round for the first time in school history.Â
Bucknell's 287 set by Joelle Johnson, Katherine Vice, Sophia Bardunias and Mattea Issa in the second round is the best round counting four scores in program history. The previous best was a 292 back in 2023. Current Bison Nicole Yun and Lila Smith helped set the previous mark.
The Bison had three golfers finish the round under par, another feat accomplished for the first time in program history. Johnson led the Bison with a two-under par 70 to become Bucknell's eighth golfer to achieve a round of two-under par or better. Bardunias and Issa also went under par for the Bison in round two, both shooting a one-under 71 in the afternoon.
Bucknell also set a 36-hole record with a 586 after a solid 299 in the first round. The score bested the team's 590 set last season at the Bucknell Invitational. The two scores were also the team's best 18- and 36-hole scores at the Nittany Lion Invitational.
Despite record-setting rounds for the Bison, the competition proved to be challenging as six teams are under par heading into the final round on Tuesday. Maryland leads the pack at 13-under par. The Bison are 10-over par and lead Patriot League foe Lehigh, who sits just behind the Bison at 12-over as a team.
The Bison drained 16 birdies in the second round and 23 birdies between both rounds. Issa shined in her collegiate debut, making eight birdies. She fired a one-under 71 in the second round that featured five birdies. She carded a solid 74 (+2) in the first round and sits in a tie for 28th place at +1 for the tournament. The highlight of her day was three consecutive birdies on holes 3-5 in the second round to shoot three-under on the front nine.
Johnson and Bardunias are both even with Issa at +1 through the first two rounds of play. Johnson carded a 75 (+3) in the first round, but bounced back with four birdies in round to for a two-under 70, her best finish in relation to par in her young career at Bucknell. Johnson jumped 21 places with her second-round effort. She drained three birdies on the back nine of the second round.
Bardunias started her day with a 74 in the first round before a second-round 71 (-1). Bardunias also had four birdies in the round. She was one-under par on the front nine holes.
Yun shot 76-76 on the day with three birdies between the two rounds. Vice carded 79-75 in her first two rounds. Vice made one birdie on the eighth hole in the second round.
The Bison played a very clean 36 holes as the team had just four scores of double-bogey or worse on the day.
Bucknell finishes up the Nittany Lion Invitational tomorrow morning with tee times beginning at 9 a.m.
Â
Bucknell's 287 set by Joelle Johnson, Katherine Vice, Sophia Bardunias and Mattea Issa in the second round is the best round counting four scores in program history. The previous best was a 292 back in 2023. Current Bison Nicole Yun and Lila Smith helped set the previous mark.
The Bison had three golfers finish the round under par, another feat accomplished for the first time in program history. Johnson led the Bison with a two-under par 70 to become Bucknell's eighth golfer to achieve a round of two-under par or better. Bardunias and Issa also went under par for the Bison in round two, both shooting a one-under 71 in the afternoon.
Bucknell also set a 36-hole record with a 586 after a solid 299 in the first round. The score bested the team's 590 set last season at the Bucknell Invitational. The two scores were also the team's best 18- and 36-hole scores at the Nittany Lion Invitational.
Despite record-setting rounds for the Bison, the competition proved to be challenging as six teams are under par heading into the final round on Tuesday. Maryland leads the pack at 13-under par. The Bison are 10-over par and lead Patriot League foe Lehigh, who sits just behind the Bison at 12-over as a team.
The Bison drained 16 birdies in the second round and 23 birdies between both rounds. Issa shined in her collegiate debut, making eight birdies. She fired a one-under 71 in the second round that featured five birdies. She carded a solid 74 (+2) in the first round and sits in a tie for 28th place at +1 for the tournament. The highlight of her day was three consecutive birdies on holes 3-5 in the second round to shoot three-under on the front nine.
Johnson and Bardunias are both even with Issa at +1 through the first two rounds of play. Johnson carded a 75 (+3) in the first round, but bounced back with four birdies in round to for a two-under 70, her best finish in relation to par in her young career at Bucknell. Johnson jumped 21 places with her second-round effort. She drained three birdies on the back nine of the second round.
Bardunias started her day with a 74 in the first round before a second-round 71 (-1). Bardunias also had four birdies in the round. She was one-under par on the front nine holes.
Yun shot 76-76 on the day with three birdies between the two rounds. Vice carded 79-75 in her first two rounds. Vice made one birdie on the eighth hole in the second round.
The Bison played a very clean 36 holes as the team had just four scores of double-bogey or worse on the day.
Bucknell finishes up the Nittany Lion Invitational tomorrow morning with tee times beginning at 9 a.m.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Sunday, September 06
Saturday, September 05
Thursday, September 03
Thursday, September 03