No. 1 DBU continues to make their mark nationally, placing five representatives on the Women's Golf Coaches Association Fall Watchlists, with Head Coach Kenny Trapp earning a spot on the National Coach of the Year Fall Watchlist. Seniors Ella Cheek and Madison Ude, along with junior Gracie Grant, have been named to the Player of the Year Fall Watchlist, while freshman Elle Pistana earned a spot on the Freshman of the Year Fall Watchlist.
Head Coach Kenny Trapp has been named to the Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year Fall Watchlist. Now in his 22nd season leading DBU's men's and women's golf programs, Trapp has earned five WGCA National Coach of the Year honors (2020, 2021, 2023, 2025, 2026) and guided the Patriots to four NCAA Division II National Championships (2021, 2023, 2025, 2026), including the last two consecutive titles. Most recently, Trapp secured his 100th career victory, becoming the first NCAA Division II coach to reach the milestone. His historic accomplishment further cemented his legacy, earning him selection to the 2027 WGCA Coaches Hall of Fame class.
Senior Ella Cheek earned a spot on the Fall Watchlist for PING WGCA Player of the Year following a standout junior campaign. After helping lead the Patriots to another national championship in the spring, Cheek captured the individual title at the West Regional and recorded three victories and six top-five finishes. Among her many accolades, she was named Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, WGCA First Team All-America, and WGCA All-West Region, while earning LSC Golfer of the Week honors four times. Cheek carried that momentum into the fall, ranking No. 2 nationally and No. 2 in the region. She finished inside the top 10 in all five tournaments, including four top-four finishes.
Junior Gracie Grant also earned a spot on the Fall Watchlist PING for WGCA Player of the Year after closing out the fall campaign with her first career individual title at the Las Vegas Desert Classic. During the spring, Grant recorded seven top-10 finishes, highlighted by a runner-up performance at the Lone Star Conference Championship, while helping the Patriots capture the national championship. She was named WGCA Second Team All-America, WGCA All-West Region, and First Team All-Lone Star Conference. Grant continued to elevate her game this fall, finishing inside the top 12 individually in all five tournaments. Her breakthrough victory in Las Vegas helped propel her to No. 6 nationally and No. 3 in the region.
Senior Madison Ude was also named to the Fall Watchlist for PING WGCA Player of the Year after another impressive year on the course. Ude helped lead DBU to its second consecutive national championship in the spring, collecting three individual victories along the way. Her accomplishments included WGCA First Team All-America, WGCA All-West Region, and First Team All-Lone Star Conference honors, in addition to earning LSC Golfer of the Week recognition three times. Ude continued her winning ways this fall, capturing her fourth career individual title at the Midwestern State Invitational. Her strong performances placed her No. 9 nationally and No. 6 in the region.
Freshman Elle Pistana earned recognition on the WGCA Fall Watchlist for Freshman of the Year after an impressive debut campaign. Pistana currently ranks No. 26 nationally and No. 9 in the region after making an immediate impact in her first collegiate season. In three of DBU's five fall tournaments, Pistana posted a top-10 finish or better, establishing herself among the region's top newcomers.
