ROME, Ga.  The Methodist University women's golf team opened play at the 2026 Women's Chick-fil-A Invitational on Sunday at Stonebridge Golf Club. The Monarchs carded a 36-over-par 328 in the opening round, placing fifth on the team leaderboard heading into Monday's final round.

THE ESSENTIALS
Event: Women's Chick-fil-A Invitational
Location: Stonebridge Golf Club (Par 73 – 5,705); Rome, Georgia
Top teams: 1 – Rhodes College (317, +25), 2 – Sewanee: University of the South "B" (318, +26), 3 – Batten University (321, +29)
Top individuals: 1 – Hayden Price, Shorter University (70, -3), 2 – Maddie Easterling,  Transylvania University (72, -1), 3 – Dounia Bezzari, Oglethorpe University (75, +2)

OPENING ROUND

• Senior Anna Wicklum led the Methodist starting lineup, carding a seven-over-par 80 with two birdies. She finished the opening round tied for 13th individually.
• Junior Paige Wilkinson sits two strokes behind Wicklum in a tie for 19th. Wilkinson recorded the most birdies among the Monarchs, helping her card a nine-over-par 82.
• Juniors Cloe Rich and Kiley Donovan each posted a 10-over-par 83 to finish the day tied for 23rd. Rich recorded one birdie on each half of the course, while Donovan's lone birdie came on the front nine.
• Sophomore Julia Hashem rounded out the Methodist starting lineup, carding a 13-over-par 86 to sit tied for 36th.
• The Monarchs also had freshman Kenley Baker and sophomore Riley Henriksen competing as individuals. Baker carded an 14-over-par 87 with two birdies to finish tied for 43rd, while Henriksen posted a 28-over-par 101 and sits 62nd.

UP NEXT
Methodist looks to climb the leaderboard during Monday's final round of the Women's Chick-fil-A Invitational. All golfers are scheduled to tee off at 8:30 AM.