Iowa State women's golf dominates Schooner Fall Classic with record-setting 17-stroke win

NORMAN, Okla. — The Iowa State Cyclones women's golf team opened its season with a statement, capturing the Schooner Fall Classic by a commanding 17 strokes while setting a tournament record along the way. The victory marks the team's second consecutive win to start the season and solidifies Iowa State as a force in collegiate golf.

Junior Alexandra Vidal delivered the defining moment, birdieing the final hole to claim her first career individual title and seal the team's triumph. Vidal closed with back-to-back rounds of 66 to finish at 10 under par, edging out a tightly contested leaderboard that came down to the final putt on the 18th green.

How Iowa State won the Schooner Fall Classic

The Cyclones posted a tournament-record total of 30 under par (274-267-269=810), defeating host Oklahoma by 17 strokes. The final-round 269 marked the sixth-lowest round in program history, while the 810 aggregate stands as the second-lowest 54-hole score in school history.

Iowa State led the field in par-4 scoring at 13 under and recorded 62 birdies, the most of any team in the tournament. The Cyclones' 30-under performance ranks as the second-lowest score relative to par in school history, trailing only the NCAA-record 60-under effort at the 2023 MountainView Collegiate.

Vidal's dramatic finish for individual title

Vidal entered the final hole tied with Oklahoma's Satonkan Thiengsri, with teammate Emma Zheng just one stroke back. When Thiengsri parred and Zheng birdied, a three-way tie for the lead emerged. Playing directly behind Zheng, Vidal knew she needed a birdie to win outright and delivered her tournament-leading 18th birdie of the week.

“I just stayed focused on my own game and trusted the work I've put in,” Vidal said after the round. “To close it out that way for the team is something I'll never forget.”

Strong performances across the Cyclones lineup

Iowa State placed four golfers in the top 10, showcasing the team's depth. Isabella Yan posted a career-best finish, tying for sixth at 6 under par. Yan recorded three sub-70 rounds after entering the season with just one in her previous two campaigns, including a career-low 67 in the second round. Her 54-hole total of 204 tied for the seventh-lowest in team history.

Nichakorn Pinprayoon added a 10th-place finish at 5 under par, marking her 11th career top-10 result. Her 205 total tied for the 11th-lowest 54-hole score in Iowa State history, and she tallied 12 birdies on the week.

Iowa State scorecard at Schooner Fall Classic

• 1 — Alexandra Vidal: 68-66-66 = 200 (-10)
• T2 — Emma Zheng: 68-67-66 = 201 (-9)
• T6 — Isabella Yan: 68-67-69 = 204 (-6)
• T10 — Nichakorn Pinprayoon: 70-67-68 = 205 (-5)
• T46 — Krittiya Thanintorndamrongdej: 71-73-71 = 215 (+5)

Team leaderboard highlights

The Cyclones finished well ahead of a competitive field. Oklahoma took second at 13 under, followed by Florida State at 11 under, Virginia Tech at 10 under, and TCU at 8 under. Oklahoma State, Kansas State, UCF, Baylor, and Tulsa rounded out the top 10.

What this win means for Iowa State golf

The victory extends Iowa State's perfect start to the season and builds momentum heading into the heart of the fall schedule. With Vidal's breakout performance, Yan's emergence, and Pinprayoon's consistency, the Cyclones have multiple scoring threats capable of contending at the highest level.

Head coach Christie Martens praised the team's collective effort and focus.

“This group has worked incredibly hard, and it shows,” Martens said. “Winning on the road against a strong field like this says a lot about their character and preparation.”

Iowa State will look to keep its winning streak alive when it returns to competition later this fall.