ROCKLIN, Calif. - The Warriors were back on the links in the 2025-26 season, as Jessup Men's and Women's Golf made major strides in their second year of NCAA Division II competition. It was another record-setting season for the program, led by second-year head coach Seth Heppner, in which they saw their first-ever NCAA Regional Qualifier, a historic milestone in the transition from NAIA to Division II.

Both teams began their seasons in mid-September, with the men competing in the Wildcat Classic hosted by Chico State University and the women competing in the RJGA Women's Shootout in Goodyear, Arizona. The early-season nerves did not faze either squad, as multiple Warriors shot personal bests in their opening tournament. On the men's side, Nicholas Schultz and Trevor Halloran shot their best rounds as Warriors, setting an impressive bar for the fall portion of the schedule. This first weekend also saw the debut of freshman Jacobus Brakkee, who began his incredible freshman season by leading the men's team with scores of 71, 71, and 74, shooting even par for the tournament. On the women's side, Julianne Canda started her season off scorching hot, tying for sixth place and shooting a career-best +2 over two rounds with a 72 and 74.
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The rest of the fall would see both teams compete in three more events, with the men traveling to Washington for two events before finishing the fall in Portola, CA while the women traveled to South Jordan, Utah, before coming home to play in Carmel and Sonoma in California. The fall portion of the schedule provided opportunities for both teams to sharpen their skills and perfect their craft before the spring season began, which would feature matches with much more at stake, such as the PacWest Championships at the end of April.

A week before the men's spring schedule began, the women would kick off their spring in Downey, CA at the LA Spring Kickoff, where Julianne Canda would once again steal the show for the Warriors. Canda recorded her fourth top-10 finish of the season, tying for ninth place over the three-round tournament in which she shot rounds of 76, 77, and a -3 69 to cap it off. Over on the men's side, they would also start their season strong at the Marcos Fujikura Invitational in Vista, CA. Jacobus Brakkee would be the leader of the Warriors once again, recording nine birdies on the first day en route to a 13th place finish, his best so far as a Warrior. Among PacWest teams, Jessup would finish 2nd of 4, a promising sign for the upcoming championships later in the spring. The men's team would continue their solid start in the weeks to follow, recording a 12th place finish out of 21 teams to compete in the DII Visit Stockton Invite.
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As the season progressed throughout the spring, awards began to flow in for the Warriors. In her final tournament before the PacWest Championships, Jessica Burdick came out firing on all cylinders, recording a third-place overall finish thanks to a collegiate-best -3 final round, in which she recorded four birdies and an eagle to soar up the leaderboard. For her performance, Burdick was awarded PacWest Player of the Week honors, the second of her career. Over on the men's side, the team was busy earning hardware of their own, as they were awarded PacWest Team of the Week honors for their performance at the Dominican Spring Invitational, where they finished 2nd out of 7 competing teams. Leading the way once again was Jacobus Brakkee, who finished second overall in the tournament at even par. Also stepping up for the Warriors were Paolo Castaneda, Nick Chavarin, and Braden Armstrong, who all finished tied for 12th place in the tournament, contributing major points for Jessup and allowing them to hold off Vanguard for the second place finish.

After a hardware-filled April, it was off to the PacWest Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Leading the way on the women's side was a familiar face and program veteran, Jessica Burdick, who finished with a score of +7. The team recorded an 8th place finish at the grueling Aliente Golf Club. On the men's side, the program saw another top-3 individual finish. Jacobus Brakkee continued his phenomenal freshman campaign with another even-par finish, tying him for third overall. Other key contributors were Braden Armstrong, who finished 8th overall at +3, along with Jerah Venkaiya and Daniel Johnson. These solid scores secured a fifth-place finish for the Warrior men, who will look to build off of an incredible individual season, as well as major strides from the unit as a whole.

While the team's season may have been over, there was one tournament left on the schedule, and a historic one at that. Jacobus Brakkee's incredible performances throughout the season were enough to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, a feat no other Warrior has yet accomplished. He wouldn't have to travel far, as the Regionals would take place in Stockton, California, just a few miles from his hometown in Tracy. His first two rounds would see him record scores of 75 and 76, before he incredibly ended his freshman season, scoring a -1 71 on the final day.

Several outstanding golfers were recognized at the end of the season by their selection to PacWest All-Conference teams. On the men's side, Jacobus Brakkee was given Third Team All-PacWest honors after his incredible freshman season, in which he recorded two top-three finishes and scored even par or better in four events. Brakkee also has the distinct honor of being the first player in school history to qualify for an NCAA Regional Championship. Over on the women's side, also earning Third Team honors was longtime Warrior Jessica Burdick. The 2024 GSAC Champion finished in the top five twice this season, with the highlight performance being her third-place finish at the Palm Valley Classic, where she earned PacWest Player of the Week. Another All-PacWest selection on the women's team was Julianne Canda, whose outstanding 2025-26 campaign earned her Second Team All-PacWest. Canda's consistency was on full display this season, recording four top-10 finishes throughout the season, finishing as the 82nd ranked golfer in the West Region.

The 2025-26 season was filled with incredible highlights, achievements, and milestones, giving fans lots to cheer for all season long, as well as optimism for the future of Jessup Golf. With a core group of returners, a strong head coach, and a previous season of major milestones, the Warriors will look to continue to make major strides in both the PacWest and Division II in the 2026-27 season.  
About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).