Wheeling, W. Va. – In 2024, a new era of Wheeling Women’s Golf begins under the leadership of Head Coach Patti Maroney. However, the goal remains the same as the team looks to continue their six year streak of a top four finish at the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Women’s Golf Championship. They begin the journey to achieving that goal on Monday when they compete at the University of Charleston Invitational. 

During the 2023 fall season, the Cardinals had a small group but a veteran group as they looked to continue their success. They would end up finishing top four in four of their five tournaments, including three of their four regular season tournaments. They began the year with a fourth place finish at the CAL-U Vulcan Invitational and finished 10th at the University of Charleston Invitational. As the regular season came to an end, the Cardinals continued to improve, taking third in the Dr. Wally Edgell Invitational before the put together their best performance at the Capital Invite. They finished 2nd as a team at the event and had two of their four golfers finish with PRs. They headed into the MEC Championships flying high and made it to the third day of competition. They would end up finishing just outside the top three, taking fourth with a three-day score of 1044. 

Leading the Cardinals in 2024 will be senior Nicole Lincicome, who has been a steady presence at the top of the Cardinal’s lineup. She was the Cardinal’s leader at the 2023 MEC Women’s Golf Championship, finishing 17th overall with a three-day score of 254. She had an average round score of 86 over 17 rounds of play, with her best performance being in the second round of the Capital Invitational when she shot a 75. Lincicome is a two-time All-MEC Honorable Mention honoree and has been a consistent leader for the Cardinals throughout her four seasons. She looks to continue her personal success on the course while helping the younger golfers continue to grow. 

The other veteran golfer returning to the lineup is junior Ella Keffer, who is coming off a breakout sophomore season. She set her new PR on three separate occasions during the year, with the most recent coming in the second round of the MEC Championships when she shot an 80. Over the summer she continued her growth competing in the 101st West Virginia Women’s Amateur. She won her flight with a three day score of 246 and finished seventh overall at the Amateur event. Also joining the team are a pair of newcomers in transfer McKenzie Thomas and freshman Milhoan Brielle. Both are participating in their first collegiate golf seasons, with Thomas being a former four-sport high school athlete and Brielle coming from Parkersburg High School. They both look to make an impact in their first seasons with the Cardinals. 

The 2024 fall season will see the team get a nice mix of MEC play as well as a look at what the region has to offer. After opening the year at the Charleston Golden Eagle Invitational, the team will embark on back-to-back regional tournaments. The mix of conference and non-conference foes five the team a nice mix of competition throughout the year as they prepare for the MEC Conference Championship. Despite the small number, the Cardinals have the same goal as last year, to finish in the top four of the MEC and compete for an MEC Championship. They have made the third day of competition in each of the last six seasons and look to keep that streak alive. 

The Course 

The 2024 Charleston Golden Eagle Invitational will be played at the Edgewood Country Club in Charleston, West Virginia. The Par 72 course was first opened in 1972 and has served as host to two West Virginia State Opens, six US opens, and several Amateur and Mid-Amateur qualifiers. It is the only course in the Kanawah Valley to feature bent grass trees, fairways, and slick, undulating greens. The course provides a challenge to its players and the Cardinals will look to come out strong to start 2024. 

The Participants 

Ursuline College, Emory & Henry, Concord, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Wheeling, Barton College, University of Mount Olive, The University of Virginia’s College, Ashland, University of Charleston (host), Davis & Elkins, West Virginia Wesleyan, Gannon, Bluefield State, West Liberty 

The Details 

The University of Charleston Invitational kicks off with round one on Monday with tee times beginning at 9 AM. You can follow along with live results by clicking HERE.