DADE CITY, Fla. - Lynn University women's golf finished seventh at the 2026 Saint Leo Invitational on Tuesday at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club's South Course. The Fighting Knights completed the 54-hole tournament at 41-over par, highlighted by Amelia Ruiz Topali's fourth-place tie at one-over 217.
 
INSIDE THE TOURNAMENT:
Saint Leo Invitational
Team Result: 7th of 13 teams (+41)
Team Winner: Barry (+19)
Individual Winner: Mckenzee Sullivan, Nova Southeastern (-2)
Lynn Leader: Amelia Ruiz Topali (T4, +1)
Course Details: Lake Jovita GCC | 6,132 yards | Par 72
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Ruiz Topali led the Fighting Knights with rounds of 72 (E), 73 (+1) and 72 (E) to finish tied for fourth at one-over 217, earning her first top-five finish of the season
- The senior opened the tournament with an even-par 72 on Monday, recording a pair of birdies while playing both the front and back nine at even par
- Ruiz Topali followed with a one-over 73 in the second round, highlighted by a one-under 35 on the back nine that featured three birdies
- She closed the tournament with another even-par 72 on Tuesday, firing a two-under 34 on the front nine to secure her place among the tournament's top five
- Ruiz Topali finished tied for fourth in the field with 10 birdies and tied for fourth in par-4 scoring, averaging 4.07 (+2) across the three rounds
- Nicole Yugay was Lynn's second-highest finisher, tying for 24th at 12-over 228 following rounds of 74 (+2), 78 (+6) and 76 (+4)
- Yugay opened the tournament with a two-over 74, highlighted by an even-par 36 on the back nine, before closing with a four-over 76 on Tuesday
- Emilia Koskinen finished tied for 37th at 16-over 232, carding consecutive rounds of 76 (+4) on Monday before closing with an 80 (+8)
- Fighting Knight newcomer Luciana Fierro tied for 44th at 17-over 233, posting rounds of 81 (+9), 78 (+6) and 74 (+2)
- Fierro showed steady improvement throughout the tournament, lowering her score in each round and finishing with a two-over 74 on Tuesday, her lowest round of the event
- Leelou Belliard rounded out Lynn's lineup in a tie for 66th at 25-over 241, recording rounds of 79 (+7), 85 (+13) and 77 (+5)
- Belliard rebounded from her second-round 85 with a five-over 77 in Tuesday's final round, her best score of the tournament
- Lynn opened the tournament with a 13-over 301 before posting a 17-over 305 in the second round
- The Fighting Knights saved their best team round for Tuesday, closing with an 11-over 299 to finish at 41-over 905 for the tournament
- Lynn's final-round 299 was the fourth-lowest team score of Tuesday's round, helping the Fighting Knights finish five strokes ahead of eighth-place Tampa (+46)
- The Fighting Knights tied for second in the 13-team field with 30 birdies, matching Barry, Saint Leo and Eckerd while trailing only Wingate's 35
- Lynn also ranked fifth in par-4 scoring with a 4.32 average (+48) and tied for fifth in par-5 scoring at 5.12 (+7)
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights close out the fall season next week as Lynn heads to St. Augustine, Fla. for the Flagler Fall Slam at Marsh Creek Country Club on Monday, Oct. 26.