WICHITA, Kan. – The Shocker women's golf team will kick off the 2024-25 tournament season with a short trip to Manhattan, Kansas, to play in The Powercat Invitational, hosted by Kansas State at Colbert Hills Golf Course. 
 
The Shockers and head coach Tom McCurdy are looking forward to the new season with four new additions to the 2024-25 roster, two of which will be making their Shocker debuts in the lineup.
 
"We have some great experience returning with our upperclassmen and a very talented freshmen class this year," said McCurdy. "We have great depth that is going to be key for us in this tournament and throughout the season."
 
Fast Facts – The Powercat Invitational
Dates: Monday, September 9 – Tuesday, September 10 
Host: Kansas State
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Venue: Colbert Hills
Yardage: 6,439 yards
Par: 72
Format: Stroke Play
Live Scoring: Clippd
The Field – 16 Teams: Austin Peay, Bethune-Cookman, Bowling Green, Central Arkansas, Cincinnati, Dayton, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Jacksonville State, Kansas State, North Dakota, North Texas, Northern Colorado, Southern Mississippi, UTRGV, Wichita State
 
The first Shocker lineup of the year features the two top Shockers from last year in Kate Tilma and Mackenzie Wilson, as well as additional returner Brooklyn Benn, who turned in a strong summer campaign, headlined by a win in the Oklahoma Golf Association's Women's Stroke Play Championship at Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 6. True freshmen Amelie Paul and Lara Stifter round out the lineup, carrying strong qualifying rounds into Monday's tournament.
 
Newcomer and Troy transfer Sammy Straight will make the trip with the team and compete as an individual.
 
"Kate being a transfer from Kansas State knows Colbert Hills really well," said McCurdy. "Mackenzie has won a college tournament before, Brooklyn had a great summer, and our two freshmen in the lineup look really good, which gives a great chance to do well at this tournament."
 
Shocker Five:
Kate Tilma (Jr.) – Second year Shocker…Transferred from Kansas State…Played in all nine tournaments in first season as a Shocker…Lowest stroke average on the team at 74.2 which is second lowest in team history...Led team in birdies with 69...Finished as top Shocker in five tournaments, including four in the fall...Competed in all four fall tournaments in her first fall as a Shocker...Posted the Shocker's only top-5 individual finish of the fall at the Payne Stewart Memorial...One of three Shockers to post multiple top-20 finishes in the fall.

Brooklyn Benn (Jr.) – Third year at Wichita State…Competed in six events last season…Shined at AAC Championship setting career low 18- and 54-hole scores in the tournament...Recorded team's first eagle of the season and first of her career at Payne Stewart Memorial on Sept. 11...

Amelie Paul (Fr.) – Won Grand Prix d'Aix Provence and Grand Prix de Valgarde in 2023...
Ranked as high as 139th in France and 1953rd in the world...Finished as high as eighth in French Girls Championships

Mackenzie Wilson (Jr.) – Third year Shocker…Has competed in all 20 tournaments in previous two years at WSU…Second lowest stroke average among Shockers last season at 75.6…212 54-hole score at Diamante Intercollegiate in October was the second best 54-hole score in team history

Lara Stifter (Fr.) – Named Top 15 Girls Golfer in all of Germany...Competed in the German First National League…
 
Next Up
The Shockers will make their first of two trips to Colorado this season, this one to Eagle, Colorado, to compete in the Golfweek Red Sky Classic at Red Sky Ranch Golf Club September 23-25.