ALBANY, N.Y. — The University at Albany women's golf program enters the 2026–27 season with high expectations, a core of proven veterans, and fresh talent eager to make an immediate impact. Led by head coach Colleen Cashman and assistant coach Thomas Strandemo, the Great Danes have constructed a competitive fall slate designed to test the squad early and build momentum toward the spring.
 
Season Kickoff: Bucknell Invitational
The Great Danes tee off their official campaign at the Bucknell Invitational in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, competing at the Bucknell Golf Club. The three-round, 54-hole tournament features a packed 14-team field—including host Bucknell, Columbia, Duquesne, Fairleigh Dickinson, LaSalle, Le Moyne, Manhattan, Mercyhurst, Mount St. Mary's, New Haven, St. Joseph's, Wagner, and West Chester. Action kicks off with 8:30 a.m. tee times for both the first and second rounds, concluding with a 9:00 a.m. start for the final round.
 
Course Breakdown:

• Par: 70
• Total Yardage: 5,901 yards
• Front Nine: Par 36 | 3,138 yards
• Back Nine: Par 34 | 2,763 yards

 
UAlbany Lineup:

1. Nicole Criscone
2. Jasmine Furstenburg
3. Callie Taylor
4. Sydney Fuke
5. Mia Cepeda
6. Madison Kuratani (indv.)

 
Coach Cashman on the Bucknell Invitational
"Our first trip ever to Bucknell was two years ago, also the first event in college for three of the event's returning players. I believe it holds a special place in their hearts. The weather looks very nice! I believe the course is scoreable and we are looking forward to hopefully posting some very good scores to get the season going!
 
"The lineup for Bucknell has a lot of depth with two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and our newest freshman. What I think is very rare, and hopefully will catch the eye of many, is that I believe we are the only team in the country to have three Hawaiian golfers in our starting lineup! Very exciting stuff, which has proven very solid throughout my career here at UAlbany.
Previously, two years ago, both Callie and Mia had a 3^rd and 11^th place finish in the event, respectively. So, we are looking towards them to once again be our leaders this week while bringing the experience to half the team that has never competed at this venue!"
 
 
Looking Back: Recapping 2025-26
The Great Danes enter the 2026–27 campaign following a strong 2025–26 season packed with team hardware and dominant individual performances. UAlbany set the tone early in the fall by retaining local bragging rights with a victory over crosstown rival Siena in the annual Crosstown Challenge. The momentum continued with a podium finish as the Great Danes placed third at the UAlbany Great Danes Invitational, before capping off the fall schedule in championship fashion by capturing the team title at the Le Moyne College Invitational. That victory was anchored by senior Lucia Esteban, who claimed the individual medal in her final collegiate season.
 
Building on their autumn success, the Great Danes kicked off the spring in Florida at the Space Coast Classic before capturing another team tournament title at the Howard Lady Bison Spring Invitational, where graduating senior Thantita Aungsuseewong took the top spot on the individual leaderboard. Following trips to Bermuda and New Jersey, UAlbany capped off its year with a solid third-place finish at the MAAC Championship.
 
Returning Talent
The Great Danes return a well-established core with deep familiarity in coach Colleen Cashman's system. Senior Nicole Criscone anchors the roster as the longest-tenured Great Dane, entering her fourth year with the program after joining in 2023–24. Fellow senior Callie Taylor and an experienced junior class featuring Mia Cepeda, Jessica Brown, and Madison Kuratani all enter their third season at UAlbany after joining ahead of the 2024–25 campaign. Rounding out the returners is sophomore Jasmine Furstenburg, who steps into her second collegiate season following a solid rookie year.
 
New Faces
The Great Danes bolster their roster with two newcomers in transfer junior Sadhbh Bullock and incoming freshman Sydney Fuke. Bullock arrives at UAlbany after beginning her collegiate career at Lincoln Memorial University, bringing experience from Division II competition alongside a strong background in Irish junior golf. Joining her is Fuke, a true freshman who enters the program with an impressive junior resume and exceptional ball-striking ability.
 
Around the Globe
The 2026–27 Great Danes boast a remarkably diverse roster that spans the globe, bringing together distinct golfing backgrounds from across four countries and multiple time zones. Internationally, UAlbany features talent from London, England (Jessica Brown), Limerick, Ireland (Sadhbh Bullock), George, South Africa (Jasmine Furstenburg), and Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada (Callie Taylor). Domestically, the roster bridges opposite ends of the country: a strong Hawaiian contingent featuring Mia Cepeda, Madison Kuratani, and incoming freshman Sydney Fuke, complemented by Nicole Criscone anchoring the squad right from home in Clifton Park.
 
Honoring Legacy: The Doc Sauers Invitational
A major highlight of the fall schedule is the newly renamed Doc Sauers Invitational, held at Normanside Country Club in Delmar, N.Y. Formerly known as the UAlbany Invitational, the tournament was officially renamed to honor the late Richard "Doc" Sauers—a legendary figure in UAlbany history who dedicated decades to supporting student-athletes and advancing the athletics department. Hosting yearly competitions at Normanside gives the Great Danes a great opportunity to showcase the Capital Region and play in front of friends and family while honoring Doc's lasting legacy.
 
Coach Cashman on the Doc Sauers Invitational
"Doc was a very special man to me throughout my 14 seasons here at UAlbany. Sharing just a cubicle wall in our basement offices, we enjoyed so many conversations about the current team, the schedule, his past players, and what was coming up. I even had the pleasure of listening to his frequent phone calls with Jim Boeheim at Syracuse after their basketball games.
 
"Doc was a deeply respected coach in both basketball and golf, and that was easy for me to see. He was a huge mentor for me personally. After every MAAC Championship win or impressive tournament finish, I'd receive a call, see the name 'Doc' pop up on my phone, and hear him open with, 'Colleen, Dick Sauers here.' I always got a chuckle out of that.
 
"In recent years, when his health began to decline, I started thinking about how we could honor Doc within the future of our women's golf program. When we first started the UAlbany Great Dane Invitational, he did everything in his power to get out and watch a few holes. He also never missed a Crosstown Challenge at his home course, Wolferts Roost. So, it occurred to me early last spring that our home tournament should bear Doc's name. Even though Doc won't be here to ride around and root us on, I'm hoping that Elaine will be able to carry on the tradition! No matter what, I will have a golf cart with a personalized cart sign reading, 'Doc and Elaine Sauers' in remembrance of both of them."
 
Fall 2026 Tournament Slate

• Bucknell Invitational
  • Course: Bucknell Golf Club
  • Location: Lewisburg, Pa.
  • Dates: September 11–13
• Crosstown Challenge (vs. Siena)
  • Course: Pinehaven Country Club
  • Location: Guilderland, N.Y.
  • Dates: September 18
• Princeton Invitational
  • Course: Springdale Golf Club
  • Location: Princeton, N.J.
  • Dates: September 26–27
• Yale Invitational
  • Course: The Yale GC
  • Location: New Haven, Conn.
  • Dates: October 3–4
• 3rd Annual UAlbany Doc Sauers Invitational
  • Course: Normanside Country Club
  • Location: Delmar, N.Y.
  • Dates: October 11–12

 
Coach Cashman on the Fall Schedule
"This year's Fall schedule is among the toughest that we have seen in quite a few years. Being invited to participate in two Ivy League tournaments is an awesome opportunity for the players. Beginning this week at Bucknell, I'm hoping to get a nice confidence boost while trying to sort out our lineup to begin the season. Also, being able to host two home events ensures that each of the players will get at least two opportunities to compete during the Fall season. We are very excited to get underway!"
 
Excellence in the Classroom: WGCA All-American Scholars
The Great Danes' success extended far beyond the golf course this past year, as four UAlbany student-athletes earned national recognition as WGCA All-American Scholars for the 2025–26 season. Graduating senior Lucia Esteban alongside current returners Callie Taylor, Madison Kuratani, and Jasmine Furstenburg were among the 1,551 women's collegiate golfers nationwide named to the prestigious team. Selected by the Women's Golf Coaches Association under criteria recognized as some of the most stringent in college athletics, each honoree maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher while competing in at least half of the program's competitive rounds through the conference championship. This national accolade highlights the team's ongoing commitment to balancing golf with academic performance.
 
Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany women's golf by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.