College Golf Teams Head to Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge

The Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge is underway from April 6 to April 8, 2026, at the True Blue Golf Club on Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. The event serves as a critical juncture for numerous NCAA Division I programs as they conclude their regular seasons and compete for a prestigious title.

The tournament features a wide array of participants across both men’s and women’s divisions. Participating men’s programs include the University of Evansville, George Washington University, University of New Orleans, University of West Georgia, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Charleston Southern University, Georgia State University, Marshall University, Sacred Heart University, College of William & Mary, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of South Carolina Upstate, Ohio University, Queens University of Charlotte, University of Connecticut and Jacksonville State University.

On the women’s side, teams such as Coastal Carolina University and Ball State University are set to compete in the event at Pawley’s Island. For several of these programs, the challenge represents the final opportunity to wrap up their regular season play.

St. John’s and the Path to Augusta

While the current Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge is taking place in South Carolina, the stakes of the event are highlighted by the experience of St. John’s University. The St. John’s men’s team secured a position in the 16-team field for the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, by winning the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge in the previous spring.

Phil Wildermuth, the head men’s golf coach at St. John’s University, noted that the opportunity to compete against top-10-ranked programs such as LSU, Illinois, and Oklahoma State provides invaluable experience for his players, particularly the two freshmen in his lineup.

You feel like you earned it to be here, that’s how we feel

Phil Wildermuth

Wildermuth indicated that the experience gained in these high-profile events serves as a build-up for upcoming competitions, including the Rutherford Intercollegiate hosted by Penn State and the Big East Conference Championship.

Tournament Format and Venue

The Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge is a 54-hole event. The True Blue Golf Club on Pawley’s Island provides the backdrop for this annual spring competition, challenging NCAA Division I athletes with its coastal layout.

The event is hosted by Golfweek and is designed to provide a competitive environment for teams to test their skills before moving into the postseason phase of the collegiate golf calendar.

Historical Context and Field Composition

The composition of the field often includes a mix of established programs and those looking to make a mark in the postseason. In the 2025 iteration of the event, which took place from March 31 to April 2, the field included teams such as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Stephen F. Austin State University, Valparaiso University, Xavier University, and the University of Missouri – Kansas City, among others.

The 2026 field continues this tradition of diverse representation from across the NCAA Division I landscape, with teams like the University of West Georgia and Fairleigh Dickinson University appearing in the participant lists for the current event.