RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Fresh off their seventh Great American Conference Championship and ninth qualifying trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament since 2014, the Arkansas Tech women's golf team is set to begin their 2026-27 season with the Missouri Southern Women's Fall Invitational, hosted by Missouri Southern State University at the Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin, Missouri.
 
This year's Golden Suns must replace a pair of All-GAC golfers in outgoing seniors Ellen Spigner and Averi Mickelson. Mickelson was a second-team selection while Spigner was first-team and the GAC Player of the Year. She would also go on to earn her fourth-straight all-region honor and her first All-America plaudit as well.
 
The Golden Suns do return an All-GAC golfer in Jaylee Castro. With a breakout junior season, Castro also earned all-region honors. Alongside Castro as a returner are Jessie Jane Norman, Kasey Reichard and Laura Weber Bernardo.
 
In addition to the returners, 2026 GAC Women's Golf Coach of the Year, Lowell Stephens, bolstered the team with the additions of first-year players Payton Bourland, Chloe Freville and Presley Stam as well as fourth-year transfer, Tess Linden.
 
The Golden Suns' initial lineup of the year will feature Castro, Stam, Freville, Weber Bernardo and Norman.
 
The 36-hole event is scheduled to have a shotgun start of 9 a.m. on Monday and the Golden Suns will be grouped with Washburn and Southern Nazarene. Monday is set to feature 18 holes of play with the second round occurring on Tuesday with the final 18 holes.
 
Tuesday's tee times will be determined after Monday's results. 
 
Live scoring can be found through Scoreboard and at the following link:
https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/244891/scoring/team