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Women’s Golf Set to Host Kathy Niepagen Spring Fling

Titans go for fourth win of the season

4/10/2026 11:00:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The No. 23 Illinois Wesleyan University women's golf team hosts the Kathy Niepagen Spring Fling this weekend Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12 in familiar territory. A 9 a.m. shotgun start is scheduled for Saturday's round at the 5,823-yard, par-72 Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, Ill.

The tournament is in its 11th year being named after current women's golf assistant coach Kathy Niepagen. Kathy was at the helm of the Titan golf program for 17 years, leading the team to 11 NCAA Division III National Championship appearances from 1997-2014.

Illinois Wesleyan enters the tournament on the back of consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Golfer of the Week honors. Junior Nora Cerroni (Waukesha, Wis.-Waukesha North) most recently earned the distinction Wednesday, April 8 after posting a runner-up finish at the WashU Spring Invite, March 29-30. Cerroni posted an opening round three-under 69, which was a career-low. She is second on the squad in stroke average this season as she boasts a 77.1.

Sophomore Gigi Zera (Glenview, Ill.-Loyola Academy) leads the Titans in stroke average this season at 76.3. Zera has three CCIW Golfer of the Week honors to her name this season and one individual win at the SMSU Classic, March 16-17. With two tournaments remaining in the regular season and the Division III National Championship to follow, Zera looks to climb into the top-five in program history in single season stroke average, as she currently sits sixth.

IWU will be one of 16 teams in the field including No. 5 WashU, No. 15 Carleton, No. 20 Grinnell, Augustana, Aurora, Central, Joliet Junior College, Macalester, Millikin, North Central, Saint Mary's, Trine, UW-Platteville, UW-Stout, UW-Whitewater, and Wartburg.

The Titans will have two teams and one individual competing in the 36-hole tournament. Cerroni, Zera, junior Emily Gastrau (Wauwatosa, Wis.-Wauwatosa East), sophomore Grace Fagan (Kirkwood, Mo.-Visitation Academy), and freshman Julia Henry (Homewood, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor) will make up the IWU 'A' squad.

On the Titan 'B' team will be senior Brooke Erhard (Champaign, Ill.-St. Thomas More), sophomores Breanna Brown (South Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) and Caroline Carr (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East), and freshmen Addison Krouse (Effingham, Ill.-St. Anthony) and Ashley Wells (Champaign, Ill.-St. Thomas More). Junior Sarah Sim (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-Fremd) will compete as an individual.

Live scoring for the 9 a.m. start on Saturday will be provided through Scoreboard powered by Clippd and can be found here.

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