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The BYU women's golf team claimed the Red Raider Invitational team title in Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BYU's Kehei Akina competes in a tournament during the 2026 fall season.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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LUBBOCK, Texas — BYU women’s golf shot a 2-under final round to win the Red Raider Invitational at The Rawls Course on Wednesday.

Freshman Kate Walker (71-70-73-214) finished second at 2-under par, earning the first top-five finish of her career. All five starters finished in the top 25 as the Cougars earned their first victory since the USF Invitational in April 2025.

“We’re obviously really excited about the win,” head coach Carrie Roberts said. “The girls played great, and everybody contributed. This should give us some confidence moving forward.”

Walker shot a 1-over 73 in the final round to finish the tournament at 2 under. She opened with a birdie on No. 1 before adding bogeys on Nos. 3 and 9. After making the turn, the freshman carded two birdies and two bogeys to finish runner-up, the best individual finish by a Cougar since María José “MJ” Barragán’s victory at the 2025 USF Invitational.

“It felt really great,” Walker said. “When I made a bogey, I came back with birdies and just kept grinding. I am so proud that I kept my head up even though today wasn’t my best. I am even more excited that our team won.”

Whitney Banz (73-73-72-218) tied for fifth at 2 over for the first top-five finish of her career. She carded an even-par 72 in the final round, highlighted by three birdies and three bogeys.

Barragán (78-71-71-220) shot a 1-under 71 in the final round to tie for ninth at 4-over par. She recorded three birdies on the front nine on her way to the 11th top-10 finish of her career.

Tatum Otto (70-77-76-223) concluded her first career team start at 7 over after carding a 4-over 76 in the final round to tie for 13th.

Berlin Long (78-79-70-227) shot a 2-under 70 in the final round to tie her career-best 18-hole score. She made six birdies en route to an 11-over total over 54 holes, tying for 25th.

Competing as an individual, Nya Palmer (80-75-77-232) tied for 42nd at 16-over par after shooting a 5-over 77 in the final round.

Tournament host Texas Tech (294-285-292-871) finished second at 7 over, while New Mexico (292-303-293-888) finished third at 24 over. Abilene Christian (297-293-306) took fourth at 32 over, and Sam Houston (302-295-302-899) finished fifth at 35 over.

BYU next competes at the PD Intercollegiate at Wichita Country Club in Wichita, Kansas, on Oct. 5-6.

BYU’s Akina given sponsor exemption into Bank of Utah Championship

IVINS, Utah — BYU men’s golfer Kihei Akina earned a sponsor exemption to compete in the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort on Oct. 1-4, the championship announced Tuesday.

Akina will make his third consecutive appearance in the tournament after competing in 2024 and 2025.

The event grants sponsor exemptions each year to four promising players who do not hold full PGA Tour status. Alongside Akina, the tournament granted exemptions to Arizona State golfers Bowen Mauss and Boston Bracken. The fourth exemption has not yet been announced.

Akina has made four PGA Tour starts, making the cut at the Puerto Rico Open in March and the Wyndham Championship in August. The sophomore will look to make his first cut at the Bank of Utah Championship after missing the cut in 2024 and 2025.

The Hawaii native has also competed in three Korn Ferry Tour events.

Akina has carried last season’s momentum into his sophomore season, finishing second at the Vuori Invitational to record the eighth top-five finish of his career.

UVU men’s soccer ranked as high as No. 21

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Utah Valley men’s soccer is ranked in all three major national polls this week, checking in at No. 21 in the College Soccer News Coaches Poll and at No. 24 in both the United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer rankings.

The Wolverines are unbeaten through six games for the third straight season and third time ever. Utah Valley has started the season unbeaten through seven games in each of the last two seasons, going 5-0-2 in 2024 and 6-0-1 in 2025. It is also the second straight year and the second time ever the Wolverines are unbeaten entering conference play.

Utah Valley’s defense has been stout to start the year, holding opponents to just three goals in the run of play over the first six games, and four overall. The Wolverines hold a Big West-leading 0.67 team goals-against average that ranks 15th nationally. UVU also ranks ninth in the nation in win percentage at .833.

The offense hasn’t been as potent as it was to start the 2025 season, but the Wolverines have gotten contributions from all over the pitch in the first six games. 11 different players have a goal contribution, in addition to Luca Wingaa Laursen and Landon Christiansen, who set up the game-winning own goal at No. 20 Marshall.

For the third season in a row, the Wolverines are the final unbeaten team standing in their conference. Back in the WAC, Utah Valley started off 5-0-2 in 2024 and 6-0-1 in 2025. Entering Tuesday’s games, the Wolverines are one of just 12 teams remaining nationally with an unbeaten record.

Utah Valley will be off for the next week before opening Big West play on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at home against the UC Irvine Anteaters. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT, and tickets can be purchased at GoUVU.com/GetTix.