University of Delaware Athletics
Gooneratne Earns Second CUSA Women’s Golfer of the Week Honor
9/23/2026 1:23:00 PM | Women's Golf
DALLAS – University of Delaware women's golf sophomore Rhianna Gooneratne has been named the Conference USA Women's Golfer of the Week, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. The award, the second of the young season for Gooneratne and third of her career, recognizes her performance at the Mary Fossum Invitational earlier this week.
Gooneratne claimed her first-career medalist honors as she fired an even-par 144 over the 36 holes. She led Delaware to its first team title of the season as the Blue Hens carded a team score of 23-over par to win by four strokes over Central Michigan. The tournament was shortened to 36 holes after weather reduced Sunday to 18 holes. Gooneratne fired back-to-back rounds of even-par 72, carding five total birdies to win the individual title by two strokes. She was in second place after the first round, but used three early birdies to take the lead on Monday.
It was Gooneratne's fourth-career top-10 finish. She has led the Blue Hens as the top finisher in each of their three tournaments to start the season and owns a 72.75 stroke average through eight rounds.
The Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania native was an All-CUSA Third Team selection as a freshman last season. She was named the CUSA Women's Golfer of the Week earlier this month following the team's first tournament at the Nittany Lion Invitational. The sophomore was previously selected as the last October following a runner-up finish at the Lady Blue Hen Invitational.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will return to action in October, when it travels to Kansas for the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational (Oct. 5-6). The two-day, three-round tournament will be played at the Lawrence Country Club.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's golf, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Gooneratne claimed her first-career medalist honors as she fired an even-par 144 over the 36 holes. She led Delaware to its first team title of the season as the Blue Hens carded a team score of 23-over par to win by four strokes over Central Michigan. The tournament was shortened to 36 holes after weather reduced Sunday to 18 holes. Gooneratne fired back-to-back rounds of even-par 72, carding five total birdies to win the individual title by two strokes. She was in second place after the first round, but used three early birdies to take the lead on Monday.
It was Gooneratne's fourth-career top-10 finish. She has led the Blue Hens as the top finisher in each of their three tournaments to start the season and owns a 72.75 stroke average through eight rounds.
The Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania native was an All-CUSA Third Team selection as a freshman last season. She was named the CUSA Women's Golfer of the Week earlier this month following the team's first tournament at the Nittany Lion Invitational. The sophomore was previously selected as the last October following a runner-up finish at the Lady Blue Hen Invitational.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will return to action in October, when it travels to Kansas for the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational (Oct. 5-6). The two-day, three-round tournament will be played at the Lawrence Country Club.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's golf, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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