BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Lynn University women's golf team enters the 2025-26 season with a blend of proven experience and exciting new talent, ready to compete at the highest level in one of the deepest regions in college golf.
 
Head coach Keith Larson begins his fourth season leading the Fighting Knights with confidence in a roster anchored by returning All-American Amelia Ruiz Topali and bolstered by impactful newcomers. "New season, new beginnings – we're very excited," Larson said. "This group is very talented, and the energy around the program is really strong right now."
 
Ruiz Topali, the reigning Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, returns as the centerpiece of the program. The junior is coming off a year in which she won twice, earned First Team All-America honors, and gained invaluable international experience at the Copa Los Andes. "She doesn't view accolades as pressure," Larson said. "She sees them as something to build on, and she embraces bringing the team along with her. Amelia wants to be in contention to win every event, and she's absolutely capable of that."
 
A year ago, the Fighting Knights leaned heavily on a talented freshman class, and the growth of that group will be key this season. Sophomores Emilia Koskinen and Leelou Girault return with postseason experience under their belt. Koskinen capped her spring with a career-low round at the SSC Championship, while Girault brings versatility and energy to the lineup.
 
"It's no longer new for them. They understand the rhythm of practices, travel, and balancing academics," Larson explained. "Now they can focus on performance from an analytical perspective and that's a big step in their maturity."
 
The Fighting Knights also welcome two important additions: graduate transfer Scarlet Weidig, who arrives from Montana State with multiple years of Division I experience and international competition for Team Costa Rica, and freshman Vanessa Ramirez, a highly skilled newcomer.
 
"Scarlet's experience is huge; she's extremely talented, and she has bonded quickly with her new teammates which has immediately strengthened the team chemistry," Larson said. "Vanessa is someone I've known for a long time, and she's going to be a great fit for what we're building."
 
Senior Ariel Gonzalez Arceo and junior Nicole Yugay bring stability and leadership, setting the tone for a roster that is both competitive and connected. Larson points to Ruiz Topali as the team's natural leader. "Captains emerge, and Amelia is our captain. She's embraced that role, not just through her play but through her leadership and the respect she has from her teammates."
 
The 2025-26 schedule once again puts Lynn against some of the nation's top programs. The Fighting Knights will open with the South Region Preview at Cleveland Country Club, giving the team a chance to face elite competition on a course that has factored heavily into past regional championships. They will also compete at the NCAA National Preview at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, in addition to returning favorites like Lake Jovita and the Eckerd Invitational at Pasadena Yacht & Golf Club.
 
In the spring, the Blue and White will once again host the Lynn Invitational at Boca Woods Country Club, a tournament that has become one of the premier stops in Division II golf. "The support we get from the Boca Woods membership is incredible," Larson said. "That connection makes it one of the most sought-after events on the calendar, and the course itself is outstanding."
 
Competing in the stacked South Region, where a handful of programs can contend for a national title, Lynn knows the challenge will be steep. But Larson sees opportunity in the fight. "Our region is as strong as it gets, and that pushes us to be better every single day," he said. "If we focus on improvement, preparation, and supporting one another, I believe we'll achieve great things."
 
With a balanced roster, a proven leader at the top, and a schedule designed to sharpen them for postseason play, the Fighting Knights enter the 2025-26 season with optimism and determination. The season starts on Monday, Sept. 15 for the opening day of the NCAA South Region Preview in Cleveland, Tenn.