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Towson Women’s Golf Finishes Third at Lehigh Invitational as Grace Oristian Earns CAA Honors

By Brian Hradsky October 29, 2026

Towson Women’s Golf Finishes Third at Lehigh Invitational as Grace Oristian Earns CAA Honors

By Brian Hradsky

October 29, 2026 | Maryland Sports Blog

The Towson University women’s golf team finished third at the Lehigh Invitational on October 27, concluding its 2026 fall schedule with a strong performance at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The Tigers posted a combined score of 59-over par in the two-round tournament, finishing among the leaders in a competitive 14-team field. Senior Grace Oristian led Towson with a tie for third individually, while junior Ahika Jani also secured a top-10 finish. The result gave the Tigers momentum heading into the winter break and their spring tournament schedule.

Grace Oristian Leads Towson’s Strong Finish

Oristian delivered another impressive performance, finishing tied for third at 9-over par for the tournament. The North Potomac, Maryland, native shot a 2-over-par 74 during Tuesday’s final round, recording three birdies despite challenging conditions. Her final-round performance placed her just two strokes behind individual champion Reese Hannon of Lehigh, who finished at 7-over par. Oristian’s consistency helped Towson secure its third-place team finish.

The senior opened her final round with a par and played her first eight holes at 1-under par. She completed the front nine at even par and recorded par or better on 13 holes during the round. Her ability to recover from a difficult opening round demonstrated the experience and composure she brings to Towson’s lineup. Oristian’s strong finish also earned her Coastal Athletic Association Women’s Golfer of the Week honors on October 28.

Oristian entered the tournament following two other top-10 finishes during the fall season. She previously placed fifth at the Golf Galaxy Collegiate and ninth at the Navy Fall Invite, establishing herself as one of Towson’s most dependable performers. Her latest result continued that momentum and provided another example of her ability to compete against strong regional competition. The Tigers will look for her leadership to remain an important part of their success when competition resumes in March.

Ahika Jani Adds Another Top-10 Finish

Junior Ahika Jani also contributed significantly to Towson’s third-place performance, finishing tied for eighth at 13-over par. Jani entered the final round tied for fourth individually after opening the tournament at 5-over par. Her first-round performance included three birdies and helped Towson take the team lead after Monday’s opening round. Although the Tigers slipped to third on Tuesday, Jani remained among the tournament’s top individual competitors.

Jani’s performance demonstrated her ability to generate scoring opportunities even when facing difficult course conditions. Towson’s official tournament recap credited her with birdies on six of the nine holes on the back nine during the final round. Her aggressive approach helped her maintain a top-10 position while competing against golfers from several established programs. Having both Jani and Oristian finish among the leaders gave Towson two important individual accomplishments to close the fall.

Towson Enters Final Round With the Lead

The Tigers began the Lehigh Invitational with an outstanding opening round, finishing Monday atop the team leaderboard at 29-over par. Jani led the individual effort, while Oristian recorded 13 pars to help Towson remain competitive throughout the day. London Rinaldi also contributed two birdies, including one on the fourth hole that moved her to 1-under par early in her round. The combined performance positioned Towson to compete for the tournament championship entering Tuesday.

Towson faced the challenge of protecting its lead during the final 18 holes against a field that included Lehigh, Fairfield, Brown, Rutgers, Monmouth and several other regional programs. The Tigers ultimately finished at 59-over par, remaining among the top three despite losing their opening-round advantage. Their performance demonstrated the team’s ability to compete near the top of a tournament leaderboard over multiple rounds. It also highlighted the importance of consistent scoring across the entire lineup when pursuing team championships.

Tatyana Smith and Georgia Volley Contribute

Freshman Tatyana Smith produced several encouraging moments during the tournament, particularly during Tuesday’s final round. Smith played the back nine at 1-over par and made birdie on the 14th hole, moving to 1-under on the back nine at that point. Her ability to create scoring opportunities provided valuable experience as she continued adjusting to collegiate competition. Those individual moments could become important building blocks as Smith develops within Towson’s program.

Junior Georgia Volley also contributed a notable highlight when she birdied the par-five 15th hole during the final round. The Tigers’ tournament lineup included Oristian, Jani, Smith, Volley and Rinaldi, while Kalyn Doss competed as an individual. Towson relied on a combination of experienced golfers and developing contributors throughout the fall schedule. Building greater consistency across that lineup will be important as the Tigers prepare for their spring tournaments.

Challenging Course Tests Towson’s Lineup

The Lehigh Invitational took place on a par-72 course measuring 6,153 yards at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. The two-day competition required golfers to manage challenging conditions while maintaining accuracy and consistency across 36 holes. Oristian’s ability to recover from her opening round demonstrated how important patience and course management can become during tournament play. Towson’s overall performance showed that the Tigers could remain competitive even when individual rounds did not go exactly as planned.

The tournament featured 14 teams, giving Towson an opportunity to measure its progress against programs from several conferences. Competition against schools such as Lehigh, Fairfield, Rutgers and Monmouth provided useful experience before the spring season. The Tigers also gained another opportunity to evaluate their lineup under tournament conditions. That experience should help the coaching staff identify areas for improvement during the offseason.

Oristian Earns CAA Women’s Golfer of the Week

Towson received additional recognition Wednesday when the Coastal Athletic Association named Oristian its Women’s Golfer of the Week. The conference highlighted her third-place finish and ability to compete through chilly conditions at the Lehigh Invitational. Her final-round 74 and three birdies helped her finish within two strokes of the individual champion. The award provided a fitting conclusion to an impressive fall campaign for the senior.

Oristian’s recognition also brought additional attention to Towson’s women’s golf program following its third-place team finish. Her consistency throughout the fall demonstrated the value of having an experienced player capable of competing near the top of individual leaderboards. For the Tigers, that leadership will be important when the spring season begins and tournament competition intensifies. Her success also provides a strong example for the younger golfers developing within the program.

MSB Take: Towson Has a Promising Foundation for Spring

Towson’s third-place finish at the Lehigh Invitational was an encouraging conclusion to the fall season, particularly after the Tigers entered the final round leading the tournament. Although the team could not maintain its opening-round advantage, finishing among the top three demonstrated its competitive potential. Oristian’s outstanding individual performance and Jani’s top-10 finish showed that Towson has multiple golfers capable of challenging strong competition. The Tigers should enter the winter break with confidence in the progress they made during the fall.

The biggest challenge moving forward will be developing greater consistency throughout the entire lineup. Towson demonstrated its ability to compete for tournament championships, but maintaining that level across multiple rounds remains essential. The continued development of Smith, Volley and the team’s other contributors could provide the additional scoring depth needed to turn strong finishes into victories. If the Tigers combine that improvement with continued production from Oristian and Jani, they could become a more competitive team during the spring.

Towson’s performance also reflects the importance of building a successful program through steady development rather than relying exclusively on individual results. The Tigers have experienced players capable of leading tournaments and younger golfers gaining valuable competitive experience. That combination creates opportunities for continued improvement as the team prepares for the Coastal Athletic Association championship portion of its schedule. The fall finale offered plenty of reasons for optimism, even with areas that still require attention.

What’s Next for Towson Women’s Golf?

The Tigers will return to competition March 21-22, 2027, at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate, according to Towson Athletics. The winter break provides an opportunity for players to refine their swings, improve putting consistency and prepare for another competitive tournament schedule. Oristian and Jani will look to build on their strong fall performances, while the remainder of the lineup works toward producing more consistent results. Towson enters the offseason following a third-place finish and with several encouraging developments to carry into the spring.

Sources

Towson Women’s Golf Finishes Third at Lehigh Invitational as Grace Oristian Earns CAA Honors

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