Cyclonitas Begin New Era at Badger Invitational
Tall grass sways in Madison as Iowa State’s golfers prepare to test their mettle against the Wisconsin landscape.
The air in Madison, Wisconsin, holds a specific weight on a late September morning. It is cool, carrying the damp scent of preserved marshland and the dry, woody perfume of dense woodland. Here, the University Ridge Golf Course stretches out, a landscape sculpted by the retreating glaciers of ancient times. The front nine rolls through wide-open prairie, where the wind moves freely over the fairways, while the back nine disappears into the thick cover of Wisconsin trees. It is a place of contrasts, and for the Iowa State Cyclonitas, it is the starting line for the 2026-27 season.
The team arrives with momentum. They are returning three players from last year’s program-best finish, a ninth-place result at the NCAA Championships. The stakes are high. The course is unforgiving. The Badger Invitational is not just a tournament; it is a test of nerve against a terrain that has defined the Wisconsin men’s and women’s golf programs since 1991. For the Cyclones, this opening round is a declaration of intent.
Prairie Winds and Woodland Shadows
University Ridge is named for the geological features left behind by ice, a history etched into the contours of the land. The wide-open front nine offers a view that stretches endlessly, the grasses rippling like water in the breeze. In these holes, the prairie wind is a constant companion, twisting drives and bending putts. It demands precision. It rewards those who read the air as well as the ground. The marshland nearby adds a layer of humidity, a subtle challenge that affects the flight of the ball in ways only experience can predict.
Then, the back nine changes the character of the game. The first six holes are cut directly out of a dense Wisconsin woodland. The light filters through the canopy in dappled patches. The silence is deeper here, broken only by the crack of a club on a ball and the rustle of leaves. This is a different kind of golf. It is tighter, more technical, and less forgiving of error. The trees encroach on the fairways, narrowing the target. It is a test of nerve as much as skill.
Leadership Forged in Victory
At the helm is Head Coach Christie Martens, who was named the 2026 Big 12 Coach of the Year. It is her second time receiving this honor, the first coming in 2011. Her leadership was central to last year’s breakthrough, a season where Iowa State won its first Big 12 Championship in program history. Two Cyclones placed in the top 10 of that tournament, a testament to the depth and focus of the squad. The program’s consistency is evident in their 16th-straight appearance in the NCAA Regionals, a streak that ranks third in the Big 12 and 15th in the country.
The team’s recent performance at the NCAA Louisville Regional was a program-best, with a 54-hole score of 855 securing a tie for fourth. This was their second consecutive year finishing in the Top-5 at the NCAA Regionals. The trajectory is clear. The foundation is solid. Now, the focus shifts to the new season, with the Badger Invitational serving as the first significant benchmark. The players are ready. The course is waiting.
Returning Talent and Historic Averages
The lineup features a blend of experienced leaders and rising talent. Nichakorn Pinprayoon returns after a stellar sophomore campaign, having won three tournaments last year, including the Big 12 Championship. The junior from Lopburi, Thailand, earned WGCA and Golfweek honorable mention All-America honors. Her career stroke average of 72.37 currently holds the top spot in program history, a statistical landmark that underscores her consistency and skill.
Joining her are juniors Alexandra Vidal and Isabella Yan, both of whom are among the Top-10 in school history for career stroke average. Yan holds the eighth spot with a 74.08 average, while Vidal is ninth with 75.54. The rest of the squad includes Nichakorn Pinprayoon, Krittiya Thanintorndamrongdej, Aelisa Twiltermsup (Ind.), and Emma Zheng. This group carries the weight of expectation. As reported by GN sports/golf, the season begins now, with every stroke counted and every opportunity seized on the rolling prairie of Madison.
