Ducks Beat National Champion Northwestern, and Win the East Lake Cup

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025

OREGON WOMEN’S GOLF | @OregonWGolf

ATLANTA – The Oregon women's golf team closed out its fall season with a win on the national stage on Wednesday, defeating defending national champion Northwestern in the championship match of the 2025 East Lake Cup at East Lake Golf Club. 

Facing the Wildcats in a rematch of last spring's NCAA semifinal, the No. 5 Ducks put together a dominant 4-1 victory to earn the program's first-ever win at the East Lake Cup while making their third appearance in the last four years. It was the 12th win all-time under head coach Derek Radley, and first of the 2025-26 season. 

"Incredibly proud of our team for what they've accomplished this week," head coach Derek Radley said. "The East Lake Cup is one of the most prestigious events in college golf and it really feels like postseason competition when you're out there on the course. To finish first in stroke play and then put together two wins in match play, including today against the reigning national champions, that's not easy to do and I'm really impressed with the way our ladies carried themselves throughout the tournament.

"We had to battle through some tough weather conditions and I thought they did a tremendous job of making adjustments where we needed to while also sticking to our game plan. This is an awesome way to close out our fall season and I am so excited to see what the spring brings for this group."

What it Means: The East Lake Cup is an invitation-only event featuring the final four teams from the previous NCAA Championships, and the entire tournament is broadcast live on Golf Channel. That experience on the national stage against elite competition has proven valuable for Oregon in recent years as the Ducks have reached the semifinals or better three times since 2022, and this UO team became the first to take home the title. 

How it Happened: Play was moved up into the early morning due to incoming weather conditions, and the Ducks sent true freshman Sophie Han out onto the course first to set the tone against Northwestern's Ashley Yun.

Han did just that, taking a 1 up lead through eight holes before winning the next two to get to 3 up. A par at No. 13 got her to 4 up, and she clinched a 5&4 victory with a birdie at No. 14 to put a board on the board for Oregon.

The Wildcats answered with a quick point of their own as Dianna Lee defeated UO freshman Shyla Singh, 5&4. 

Sophomore Tong An, who had the dramatic win in extra holes last spring to send Oregon into the semifinals against Northwestern, battled throughout the morning with Hsin Tai Lin. An pulled even with a birdie at No. 8, and then won the next two holes to get to 2 up.

An was 2 up with three to play before Lin came roaring back with back-to-back wins to even the match going to 18, but An drained a par putt to win the match, 1 up, and give Oregon a 2-1 advantage. 

Junior Kiara Romero was last out on the course for the Ducks, but for the second day in a row clinched the match with a comfortable victory. Playing against Megan Meng, Romero won the first hole and never trailed en route to a 3&2 victory to seal the title for the Ducks. Romero's lead got as large as 4 up through seven and never got back down to 1 up after the second hole.

Sophomore Suvichaya VInijchaitham won her match as well against Arianna Lau to finish off the 4-1 team victory. Like Romero, Vinijchaitham won the first hole and never trailed. 

#5 Oregon 4, #21 Northwestern 1

Sophie Han (UO) def. Ashley Yun (NU), 5&4

Tong An (UO) def. Hsin Tai Lin (NU), 1 up

Shyla Singh (UO) def. Dianna Lee (NU), 5&4

Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (UO) def. Arianna Lau (NU), 1 up

Kiara Romero (UO) def. Megan Meng (NU), 3&2

Up Next: Oregon's spring season will begin on Feb. 1-3 at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.