McLean County Times

Illinois State University has released the 2025-26 women’s golf schedule under new head coach Jackie Szymoniak. The season will start with the Redbird Invitational on September 7-8, marking the 15th consecutive year for the event. Last season, Illinois State won this tournament with a record score of 849, surpassing the previous mark by 12 strokes.

Following their home opener, Illinois State will participate in the Inverness Intercollegiate at Toledo, Ohio’s Inverness Club on September 15-16. This is the first time ISU will compete in this event.

On October 5-6, Illinois State returns to Bradley’s Coyote Creek Classic after not participating last year. In previous appearances at this tournament, ISU finished within the top five each time.

The fall portion of the schedule ends with the Lady Red Wolves Classic in Jonesboro, Arkansas on October 13-14. This marks Illinois State's first competition hosted by Arkansas State since the 1996-97 season.

The spring segment opens February 1-3 at UNCG / Advance Golf Partners Collegiate in North Carolina. Later that month, from February 20-22, ISU will play in its fifth straight Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Arizona. The team finished as runner-up at this event during each of the past two seasons.

March begins with a return to Old Barnwell Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina for the More than Golf Invitational (March 1-3), co-hosted by the ANNIKA Foundation. Last year was both ISU’s first appearance and the inaugural edition of this tournament; they placed third.

Later in March, Illinois State adds two new events: Valspar Augusta Invitational (Augusta, Georgia) on March 14-15 and Ozarks National Invitational (Holland, Missouri) from March 23-25.

The regular season wraps up April 12-13 at Purdue University’s Boilermaker Spring Classic at Ackerman-Allen Golf Course where ISU took fourth place last year.

The Redbirds’ postseason run continues April 19-21 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois for the MVC Championship.

“First-year Illinois State women's golf head coach Jackie Szymoniak has announced her program's 2025-26 tournament schedule, including a home tournament to open the season, and culminating at the MVC Championship in Silvis, Illinois.”

“The Jackie Szymoniak era of Redbird women's golf begins on September 7-8 as ISU hosts the Redbird Invitational for the 15th consecutive season, after taking the title at the event last season with a tournament-record score of 849 a season ago, breaking the previous Redbird Invitation scoring record by 12 strokes.”

“A weekend later the team will travel to the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on September 15-16 to compete in the Inverness Intercollegiate – the first time that ISU will have competed at the event in the program's history.”

“After a one-year hiatus, the Redbirds return to the Coyote Creek Classic, hosted by Bradley, on October 5-6. Prior to last season, ISU had participated in the event over the previous three tournaments, finishing inside of the top five in each.”

“The fall season culminates in Jonesboro, Arkansas at the Lady Red Wolves Classic, hosted by Arkansas State University on October 13 and 14. The last time ISU has competed in an event hosted by Arkansas State since [sic]the 1996-97 season.”

“The spring season opens with the UNCG / Advance Golf Partners Collegiate , hosted by UNCG on February 1–3.”

“Late in February ,on the 20th through the 22nd ,the Birds will compete in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Rio Verde ,Arizona for the fifth consecutive season .The tournament –hosted by Western Michigan –saw ISU finish as the runner-up in each of the last two seasons .”

“Old Barnwell Country Club in Aiken ,South Carolina ,will be the host for the second consecutive season for the More than Golf Invitational on March 1–3 .Co-hosted by THE ANNIKA Foundation ,the Redbirds placed third i n t h e t o u r n a m e n t a y e a r ago –t h e inaugural year f o r t h e e v e n t .”

“Two new tournaments for ISU dot th e s c h edule to close out March ,as th e Birds travel to Augusta ,Georgia ,to compete i n th e Valspar Augusta Invitational o n March 14–15,and t o Holland ,Missouri,on March 23–25 fo r th e Ozarks National Invitational .”

“The pre-MVC Championship s ea son comes t o a close at th e Boilermaker Spring Classic o n April 12–13.Last s ea son at th e event –hosted at Ackerman -Allen Golf Course –saw ISU finish fourth i n th e tournament .”

“The Redbirds will look t o extend their MVC Championship run o n April 19–21 as I S U w ill compete i n th e yearly event ,hosted this sea son a t TPC Deere Run i n Silvis ,Illinois.”