MARICOPA, Ariz. — Lipscomb University secured a fifth-place finish at the National Golf Invitational at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club on Thursday, posting a team total of 898. Casey Yu led the Bisons with an impressive tie for ninth place, carding a final round 69 to finish with a total of 219.

Lipscomb Player Highlights 

Casey Yu secured a tie for 9th place with a total score of 219 (+3). Yu's performance improved across rounds, culminating in a 69 (-3) in the final round to end her collegiate career on a high note.

Christina Surcey tied for 19th place, finishing with a total score of 225 (+9). Surcey showed resilience by posting an impressive 70 (-2) in the third round, her best of the tournament. She shot a 76 and 79 in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Savannah Howell ended the competition tied for 25th with a score of 228 (+12). Howell opened strong with a 73 (+1) in the first round and 75 (+3) in the second round, but faced challenges in the final round with an 80.

Ava Bankston tied for 29th place, recording a total of 229 (+13). Bankston demonstrated consistency with rounds of 75 and 74 before concluding with an 80.

Katya Tibbetts finished 47th, compiling a total score of 241. Tibbetts improved her score in each round, closing with a 77 in the third round.

SEASON NOTES
- The Bisons' seventh top-5 finish of the season
- They finished the season with an 87-58-1 overall record
-Lipscomb returns almost its entire roster, losing just Casey Yu and Caroline King

HEAD COACH SHANNON O'BRIEN
I am really proud of the girls this season. All 10 players have helped enrich our culture &  deepen our talent. This season's roster returns 8 of the 10 players, and they all have a bright future to keep building on what has already been established in this program.

In my era of headship, my goal was to be a faith-driven builder, teaching the player's that victory is found where athletic excellence and spiritual maturity meet. Success for me has been measured in seeing players steward their God-given talents with integrity under pressure, knowing their worth transcends the scorecard, and watching them leave the course equipped to win at home, love their team, and build the next generation.

I genuinely believe that true victory is a multi-dimensional journey. It is helping a player unlock their divine potential so that whether they shoot a 65 or an 105+, their identity remains unshakeable—cultivating patience in the grind, integrity in the individual test, and a legacy of faith that builds others long after the final putt drops.

I walk away from my era of coaching at Lipscomb, feeling a deep peace and satisfaction in witnessing the players in this program develop in this way. I am forever grateful to every player that said yes to me, and allowed me the honor to walk with them.