Women's Golf | 9/4/2026 10:00:00 AM
St. John Fisher University will look to earn back-to-back Empire 8 women's golf invitational titles, as the 2026-27 season gets underway Sept. 5-7. The 2026 Empire 8 invitational will take place at Lake Short Country Club in Cicero, NY on Sunday Oct. 11 - Monday Oct. 12.
2026-27 Empire 8 Women's Golf Players to Watch
SUNY Geneseo - Head Coach Alyssa Polosky
Lydia Hickey, Jr., Macedon, NY/Penfield - Hickey was the second-lowest scorer for the Knights at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational. She placed ninth overall to earn second team All-Conference honors.
Avery Smith, So., Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South - Smith tied for 11th place at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational. She will be expected to be a low-scorer for the Knights in her sophomore season.
Keuka College - Head Coach Ben Guiliano
Olivia Hatch, Jr., Elmira, NY/Horseheads - Hatch, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, played in five rounds for the Wolves in 2025-26. She secured top-ten finishes in four events and shot a career-low 91 at the Keuka College Fall Invitational.
Jaeda Robinson, So., Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt - Robinson placed 10th overall at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational to earn second team All-Conference accolades.
Nazareth University - Head Coach Jake Burgio
Lainie Liberatore, So., Camden, NY/Camden - Liberatore impressed in her rookie season for the Golden Flyers. At the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational, she placed sixth overall, to earn second team All-Conference honors.
Bethany Wineburg, Jr., Homer, NY/Homer - Wineburg, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, placed fourth overall at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitationall and garnered first team All-Conference honors.
Russell Sage College - Head Coach Kevin Cain
Grace Kinkaid, Gr., Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa - Kinkaid, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, finished seventh overall at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational and earned second team All-Conference honors.
St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Bob Simms
Sarah Burgess, Sr., Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt - Burgess, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was the runner-up in the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational. She finished second overall and earned first team All-Conference accolades for the second straight year. She had the Cardinals best scoring average with 86.1 strokes per round, her lowest of her career.
Emma Sweazy, So., Rush, NY/Rush-Henrietta - Sweazy, the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational Individual Winner and Rookie of the Year, had a fantastic rookie season. She shot +20 at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational, winning by six strokes. She averaged 86.4 strokes per round, putting her second on the team.
Utica University - Head Coach Jim Ironside
Claire Draper, So., Watertown, NY/Watertown - Draper placed 15th overall at the 2025 Empire 8 Invitational. With her rookie season under her belt, she is expected to impress in 2026.
Final 2025 Empire 8 Women's Golf Invitational Standings
St. John Fisher (629, 348-344) - Empire 8 Invitational Champions
Nazareth (753, 383-370)
Geneseo (778, 389-389)
Utica (795, 402-393)
Keuka - No Team Score
Russell Sage - No Team Score
2025 Empire 8 Women's Golf Top-10 Finishers
Emma Sweazy - St. John Fisher - Individual Winner
Ava Malvaso - St. John Fisher
Sarah Burgess - St. John Fisher
Bethany Wineburg - Nazareth
Alaina Weaver - Utica
Lainie Liberatore - Nazareth
Grace Kinkaid - Russell Sage
Jillian Draper - SUNY Geneseo
Lydia Hickey - SUNY Geneseo
Jaeda Robinson - Keuka
2026 Empire 8 Women's Golf Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners
- Sarah Burgess, St. John Fisher Sr., Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt - 2025 Empire 8 Torchbearer Award Winner
- Emma Sweazy, St. John Fisher So., Rush, NY/Rush-Henrietta - 2025 Empire 8 Individual Winner, 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Meet