The University of South Alabama women’s golf team is set to begin its 2025-26 season at the 47th Annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. The event, hosted by New Mexico at the UNM Championship Course, will take place over two days starting Monday.
The tournament will follow a 54-hole format, with teams playing 36 holes on Monday and the final 18 holes on Tuesday. The course is a par 72 and measures 6,354 yards. Fifteen teams are participating in the field, including New Mexico, BYU, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Mercer, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, Southern Miss, UNLV, UTEP and Washington State. South Alabama will be paired with Fresno State and Southern Miss for the opening round and will tee off on holes 11-13.
South Alabama’s lineup features Katharina Schroll (11 Tee), Mercedes Aldana (12B Tee), Anna Behnsen (12A Tee), Daniela Palmeros (13B Tee) and Katelyn Foster (13A Tee). Schroll was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year last season and earned first-team all-conference honors after averaging 72.27 strokes per round—a freshman record for the program—and finishing in the Top 10 in eight out of ten events.
Mercedes Aldana was a second-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection last year. She averaged 73.30 strokes per round—the second lowest average by a freshman in program history—recorded six Top 10 finishes and placed inside the Top 20 in seven of her ten events. Aldana also made 63 birdies and an eagle during the season.
Anna Behnsen averaged 75.5 strokes per round over her season and tied with Schroll for most rounds under 70 on the team with four each. The invitational marks the first start for both Katelyn Foster and Daniela Palmeros.
Live scoring links for each round will be available on USAJaguars.com.
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