MANHATTAN, Kan. – Wichita State opens play in the Powercat Invitational on Monday at Colbert Hills Golf Club, the final team tournament of the fall season.
 
In their last tournament, the Shockers finished ninth in a strong field at the Oklahoma Intercollegiate on Oct. 7 at Prairie Dunes Country Club. It was the first time this year Wichita State did not place in the top five, but the team still finished ahead of three top-100 programs: Nebraska, Iowa and Abilene Christian.
 
Senior Mackenzie Wilson saw her streak of top-10 finishes end at Prairie Dunes, but she has still had a standout season. She holds a team-best stroke average of 74.4 and leads the Shockers in birdies with 26.
 
At last year's Powercat Invitational, Wichita State placed eighth with a score of 919, 55 strokes over par. Brooklyn Benn led the team by tying for 20th, while Kate Tilma followed closely, tying for 23rd.
 
Among the field, Kansas State is the highest-ranked team at No. 43. Northern Colorado is the next highest at No. 126. The Shockers have faced four teams in this week's field — Cincinnati, South Dakota, Lindenwood and Kansas State — and have topped all but the host Wildcats.
 
Fast Facts – Powercat Invitational
Dates: Monday, Oct. 20 – Tuesday, Oct. 21
Host: Kansas State
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Venue: Colbert Hills Golf Club
Yardage: 6,446/6,342 yards
Par: 72
Format: Stroke play
Live scoring: Scoreboard
The Field: Cincinnati, Oakland, Lindenwood, Southern Illinois, Northern Colorado, Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green State, Bethune-Cookman, North Dakota State, Tarleton State, South Dakota, North Dakota, Bradley, Wichita State, Incarnate Word and Kansas State
 
For the Shocker lineup, Benn has earned a spot and will make her first appearance since the Jayhawk Invitational back in August. Both Samantha Straight and Magdalena Domine will make the trip and compete as individuals.
 
Shocker Five:
 
Kayla Van de Ven (So.) – Second-year Shocker…Finished top 15 in the first two tournaments of the 2025-26 season…Joined team in January of 2025, making a major impact in her lone semester of college competition…Competed in all six spring tournaments for the Shockers in 2025
 
Manon Guille (Jr.) – First-year Shocker…Transferred from Abilene Christian…Played in 14 tournaments for the Wildcats, recording six top 20 finishes
 
Brooklyn Benn (Sr.) – Fourth year Shocker…Competed in all ten tournaments in 2024-25…Recorded first career top five finish at the Texas State Invitational on February 4, 2025…Won back-to-back Oklahoma Golf Association Women's Stroke Play Championships in 2024 and 2025
 
Kate Tilma (Sr.) -- Third-year Shocker…Transferred from Kansas State after freshman season…has played in all but one tournament since transferring to WSU…Earned AAC All-Conference honors after tying for seventh at the 2025 American Championship…Enters year No. 1 in Shocker history for stroke average in a career at 75.07
 
Mackenzie Wilson (Sr.) – Fourth-year Shocker…Three top ten finishes in the first three tournaments of the year…Has competed in all 30 tournaments in her previous three years at WSU…Entered year No. 2 in Shocker history for stroke average in a career at 75.24, trailing only teammate Kate Tilma…Team best stroke average in two of the last three years
 
Next Up
The Shockers will regroup for the spring season, which begins on Feb. 8 in the Estrella Del Mar Invitational in Mazatlan, Mexico, at Estrella Del Mar Golf Course.