Senior Zoe Newell led the University of Idaho women’s golf team at the Golf Iconic Classic, finishing tied for 18th individually as the Vandals competed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, from Oct. 12-14.
Hosted by New Mexico State, the three-day tournament took place at the New Mexico State University Golf Course and featured a field of Division I programs. Idaho’s lineup included Newell, juniors Ella Kozak and Diya Brar, and freshmen Fjola Vidarsdottir and Amber Hou.
Newell finished the tournament at 3-over-par, recording rounds of 1-under-par, even par and 4-over-par. Her opening round put her under par heading into the second day, and she maintained that momentum with an even-par performance in the second round. Although she finished above par in the final round, Newell’s overall score placed her among the tournament’s top 20 individual golfers.
Juniors Kozak and Brar finished tied for 37th at 7-over-par, giving Idaho two additional players inside the top 40. Both golfers finished the tournament with matching overall scores, though their performances across the three rounds followed different paths.
Kozak opened with a 5-over-par round before settling in during the second round, shooting even par. She entered the final round looking to improve her position but finished with a 2-over-par score. Her second-round performance helped her remain competitive as the tournament progressed.
Brar also started with a 5-over-par round but responded with one of Idaho’s better individual rounds of the tournament. She shot 1-under-par in the second round, improving her standing heading into Wednesday’s final round. Brar finished with a 3-over-par round to close at 7-over-par overall.
The two juniors finished six strokes behind Newell, who paced the Vandals throughout the competition. Their results gave Idaho three players finishing within the top 40, with each contributing a different performance over the three rounds.
Freshman Vidarsdottir finished tied for 56th at 10-over-par. She recorded a 3-over-par opening round before shooting 4-over-par in the second round. Vidarsdottir closed the tournament with another 3-over-par round, finishing three strokes behind Kozak and Brar.
Freshman Hou finished tied for 89th at 21-over-par. Her tournament included an 8-over-par opening round, followed by a 5-over-par second round. She finished with an 8-over-par final round to complete her three days of competition.
The tournament leaderboard listed Hou as Tang-Hsin Hou, while Idaho’s 2026-27 roster lists freshman Amber Hou. The names should be confirmed as referring to the same player before publication.
San Diego State’s Kylie Warner claimed the individual title at 7-under-par. Warner finished one stroke ahead of Nebraska’s Ailis Tribolet, who placed second at 6-under-par. Cal Poly’s Maddy Saysanasongkham rounded out the top three at 4-under-par.
Warner’s winning performance included a 6-under-par second round, which helped her separate herself from the field. Tribolet finished with three consecutive rounds under par, while Saysanasongkham closed with a 4-under-par final round to secure third.
For Idaho, Newell’s top-20 finish highlighted the team’s individual results in a competitive field. Kozak and Brar also finished inside the top 40, while Vidarsdottir gained experience competing against a large Division I field during her freshman season.
The Iconic Classic provided the Vandals with another opportunity to compete against programs from across the country as they continued their fall schedule. Idaho will look to build on the experience gained in New Mexico as the team moves forward with its season.
As the winter break of the season begins, the Vandals will look to prepare for their next tournament in Feburary at the Mountain Classic Matchplay in Palm Springs, California.