Rio Verde Country Club recently hosted 20 women’s collegiate golf teams from across the country for the 22nd annual Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational.

California Baptist captured the team championship for the second consecutive year, holding off Illinois State by one stroke and Xavier by five strokes.

California Baptist sophomore Pusanisa Ekkantrong took the top honors in the individual competition with rounds of 68-75-64 to finish with a three-day total of -9, 207.

The tournament, which was hosted in conjunction with Western Michigan University, was played on Rio Verde’s par-72 White Wing Golf Course at 6,001 yards.

The top five teams for this year’s event included California Baptist – 864; Illinois State – 865; Xavier – 869; Kennesaw State – 884 and Ball State – 894.

It was California Baptist women’s golf program’s second tournament team win of the season and Ekkantrong’s first individual victory of the season and second career tournament victory as a Lancer.

Ekkantrong posted an 8-under-par 64 during the third round, marking a new California Baptist women’s golf 18-hole record. The previous record was held by Samantha Dizon, Erica Wang, and Burberry Zhang at 6-under-par. Ekkantrong also now holds the 54-hole California Baptist women’s golf record at 9-under-par, which Dizon and Zhang previously held at 7-under-par.

Rio Verde Country Club members and community residents volunteered their time to coordinate the four-day event, which included a Thursday practice round. Golfers were served multiple meals and enjoyed the hospitality.

Universities competing in the 2025 Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational included Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Bradley, Butler University, California Baptist University, Cal State University Northridge, Central Michigan, Creighton University, Illinois State, Kennesaw State University, Loyola of Chicago, Missouri State University, Oakland University, Ohio University, University of South Dakota, Utah Tech, Wichita State University, Western Michigan University and Xavier.

“Rio Verde Country Club was honored to welcome these exceptional, young athletes to our beautiful (and warm) desert oasis,” said Anthony Paino, Rio Verde Country Club’s general manager.  “The entire Rio Verde community takes pride in hosting this incredible tournament. Congratulations to all involved.”