DRACUT, Mass. – UMass Lowell hosted its fifth annual River Hawk Open, a golf event held in support of women's athletics, on June 18 at Four Oaks Country Club in Dracut.
 
Since being established on the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX in 2022, the tournament has grown substantially, selling out the field of golfers for the third consecutive year in 2026.
 
"This is a beautiful event that brings so many people together in support of women's athletics and athletics as a whole," said Director of Student-Athlete Success & Engagement Sima Suon. "The original goal of the event was to just get women out on the golf course, re-engage with our alums, celebrate their experiences, and connect them with current student-athletes, coaches and staff. Now we're in year five and we sold out three months in advance and I think that's amazing. I think we're very fortunate that there's a lot of people that support our women and look forward to this year after year."
 
The 2025 River Hawk Open drew more than 170 attendees, including 140 golfers, with all proceeds going to the female student-athlete support fund.
 
"I think being a former student-athlete, I had an understanding that fundraisers and events like this are what helped benefit my student-athlete experience," explained newly graduated women's track & field team member Fleur Balogh de Galantha '26. "And just knowing that even the smallest things created such big experiences for me, it's nice to give that back and be the reason someone else in three or four years gets that same experience."
 
The event featured an 18-hole tournament with a shotgun start, followed by a lunch program that included raffles and video highlights from all the River Hawk women's teams. The speaking program was highlighted by remarks from UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, in addition to comments from Director of Athletics Lynn Coutts, Head Field Hockey Coach Shannon LeBlanc, Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Excellence Alison Quandt Westgate and women's soccer rising-senior forward Luka Marceau.
 
"I love seeing everyone, seeing my friends and meeting new people that are part
of the university and part of helping grow the community of UMass Lowell," shared field hockey alum Taylor Kloss Pittsinger '06. "I love seeing so many people having fun and just having a good time. That's what it's all about, having a good time and supporting the university and connecting those two."

The River Hawk Open was created in 2022 to honor and celebrate the successes of UMass Lowell women's athletics programs, and provide an opportunity for both women and men to connect with their peers on the golf course.  
 
"We were so excited to come back and play here," concluded women's lacrosse alum Elizabeth Kender '16, speaking on behalf of her sister, fellow lacrosse alum Laura Kender '16. "This is our first tournament for UMass Low Athletics, and it's just exciting because we get to reconnect with so many people that we went to school with."
 
If you would like to donate to the female student-athlete support fund, please click here.