St. Louis, MO – The McKendree University Women's Golf team wrapped up its regular season on Monday afternoon after two days at Norwood Hills Country Club for the UMSL Spring Invitational. The Bearcats had fallen behind the eight ball early, but made large strides as the tournament progressed, finishing in sixth as a team, powered by a catapulting effort from Chiara Bortolotti del Reino to finish inside the Individual Top 10.

McKendree was unable to find traction in the opening round (+36), but did see multiple positives, including Bortolotti del Reino and Alba Camps Pascual both finishing with identical +4/76 scores to break 80. The 402-yard par-five 6^th hole seemed to be favorable, with every Bearcat getting a par or better, including birdies from Camps Pascual, Waritsara Rungrojanaluk, and Reagan Martin. Camps Pascual (2) had the team's lone multi-birdie round.

The Bearcats, meanwhile, would make a 10-stroke improvement round-to-round, anchored by the efforts of Camps Pascual and Bortolotti del Reino on the front nine. Camps Pascual birdied on three straight holes (6^th-8^th), while Bortolotti del Reino birdied the par-four 7^th and dropped an eagle on the par-five 6^th. It would turn out to be a round that saw significantly more red numbers on the front, with nine holes of birdie or better. Once again, the Bearcats all birdied or better on the 6^th. Despite a back nine that saw a combined one birdie, McKendree's double-digit improvement had them surging up the leaderboard into the final round.

When it came to the finale, the Bearcats' ownership of the front nine proved evident with yet another slew of birdies. Camps Pascual played to a -4/32 on the front with another round of three straight birdies (four in total), while Bortolotti del Reino birdied back-to-back on the 5^th and 6^th, as well as doing so on the 9^th and 10^th. Martin (5^th, 6^th) and Cale Albertina (8^th) made it a 10-birdie front nine. As impressive as the improvement was from round one to two, McKendree jumped up 13 strokes in final round play to a +13, ending at +75 for the event.

It was a loaded field, as the Bearcats were bested by five ranked teams. In order, #17 Grand Valley State, #33 UMSL, #37 Ferris State, #11 North Georgia, and #19 UIndy. Further, the GLVC had six of the top seven individuals, including Bortolotti del Reino representing the Bearcats in an individual tie for sixth.

McKendree starts its postseason run this weekend, Friday-Sunday April 17^th-19^th, playing in the GLVC Championship at Rock Hollow Golf Club in Peru, Indiana. The GLVC Championship features a 54-hole stroke play event where an individual medalist will be awarded. The top four teams after stroke play will then compete in medal/match play to determine the team champion. In 2025, the Bearcats finished just outside of match play at 6^th place, with Camps Pascual (8^th) finishing inside the Top 10.