University of Delaware Athletics
Gooneratne, Women’s Golf Receive Highest Rankings in Program History
10/15/2026 6:58:00 PM | Women's Golf
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware women's golf team earned its highest rankings in program history, coming in at No. 73 in the first national rankings of the season put out by Scoreboard. The rankings include all 289 Division I programs.
Additionally, sophomore Rhianna Gooneratne was ranked No. 77 among all Division I women's golf players in the country. It is the highest individual ranking by a Blue Hen in program history.
The Fightin' Blue Hens are the highest-ranked Conference USA women's golf team, and the only program within the top 100. Delaware is coming off a team win at the Mary Fossum Invitational (Michigan State) in September and a runner-up finish at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational (Kansas) earlier this month. As a team, the Blue Hens have had five individual top-10 finishes and 14 rounds at either even or under par.
Gooneratne is the highest-ranked individual in the conference, and the only individual among the top 150. The sophomore has won back-to-back individual titles, becoming the first Blue Hen in program history to accomplish the feat. She earned medalist honors with an even-par scorecard at the Mary Fossum Invitational before firing a 2-under par over 54 holes to win the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational. The Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania native has been named the CUSA Women's Golfer of the Week three times in four tournaments. She is the third Blue Hen to win two tournaments in the same season, joining Alisa Khokhlova (2024-25) and Andi Slane (2015-16).
UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will wrap up the fall portion of its schedule when they host the Lady Blue Hen Invitational, October 24-25. The two-day, three-round tournament will be held at Rehoboth Country Club in Rehoboth Beach. Delaware will look to defend its title after winning each of the past two years.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's golf, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Additionally, sophomore Rhianna Gooneratne was ranked No. 77 among all Division I women's golf players in the country. It is the highest individual ranking by a Blue Hen in program history.
The Fightin' Blue Hens are the highest-ranked Conference USA women's golf team, and the only program within the top 100. Delaware is coming off a team win at the Mary Fossum Invitational (Michigan State) in September and a runner-up finish at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational (Kansas) earlier this month. As a team, the Blue Hens have had five individual top-10 finishes and 14 rounds at either even or under par.
Gooneratne is the highest-ranked individual in the conference, and the only individual among the top 150. The sophomore has won back-to-back individual titles, becoming the first Blue Hen in program history to accomplish the feat. She earned medalist honors with an even-par scorecard at the Mary Fossum Invitational before firing a 2-under par over 54 holes to win the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational. The Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania native has been named the CUSA Women's Golfer of the Week three times in four tournaments. She is the third Blue Hen to win two tournaments in the same season, joining Alisa Khokhlova (2024-25) and Andi Slane (2015-16).
UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will wrap up the fall portion of its schedule when they host the Lady Blue Hen Invitational, October 24-25. The two-day, three-round tournament will be held at Rehoboth Country Club in Rehoboth Beach. Delaware will look to defend its title after winning each of the past two years.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's golf, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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