ALAMEDA, Calif. - Colorado State University Pueblo women's golf opened its 2026 championship season on Monday at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout in Alameda, California, carrying momentum from a dominant fall campaign in which the ThunderWolves won three of the four tournaments they competed in.

Competing at the 5,800-yard Corica Park Golf Course, the 24th-ranked ThunderWolves sit tied for third place after round one at seven-over par (295), alongside Simon Fraser University. Cal State San Marcos leads the field after round one at five-under par, while Point Loma sits in second at two-under.

The opening round also marked the coaching debut of longtime CSU Pueblo football head coach John Wristen, who is serving as the interim head coach for the ThunderWolves this spring. Wristen, who guided the Pack to the 2014 NCAA Division II national championship, takes over a golf program that enters the spring season ranked among the nation's top 25.

CSU Pueblo was led on day one by sophomore Yale Lee, who delivered a steady even-par 72. Lee closed strong with a two-under 34 on her back nine to pace the ThunderWolves. Lisa Ekberg followed closely with a two-over 74, while freshman standout Thale Victoria Estensen matched that score with a solid opening round of her own.

Senior captain Freya Constable contributed an opening-round 75, providing experience and leadership in the lineup, while Olivia Heard rounded out the team scoring with a 78. Competing as an individual, Sinead Ni Cheilleachair posted an opening-round 79.

The ThunderWolves return to Corica Park Golf Course on Tuesday morning as they look to move up the leaderboard and open the 2026 championship season with a strong finish at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout.