UMass Lowell‘s River Hawk Open Drives Funds to Women’s Athletics

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DRACUT, Mass. – The fourth annual River hawk Open,a golf tournament benefiting women’s athletics at UMass Lowell,achieved a sell-out crowd for the second year running on June 18,2025. Held at Four Oaks Country Club, the event underscores the growing support for female student-athletes at the university.

As its inception in 2022, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the river Hawk Open has become a vital fundraising avenue for UMass Lowell’s women’s sports programs. The tournament’s success reflects a broader trend of increasing investment in women’s athletics, which has seen important growth in recent years. In 2023, spending on women’s college sports reached $3 billion, a 20% increase from 2019, demonstrating a commitment to providing equitable opportunities for female athletes.
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Record Turnout Highlights Growing Support

Director of Athletics Lynn Coutts emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “The support for women’s athletics at UMass Lowell is amazing. All the donations that we receive and the friendships that we build are so crucial to our growth.” Coutts further noted that every dollar raised is directly invested in enhancing the student-athlete experience, from nutrition and locker rooms to travel budgets.

Did You Know? The River Hawk Open has more than doubled in size since its inaugural year, growing from 70 golfers in 2022 to a fully sold-out event in 2025.

The 2025 River Hawk Open welcomed over 150 attendees, including 132 golfers and 60 alumni, all united in their commitment to supporting the female student-athlete support fund.

A Tribute to Pioneers of Women’s Athletics

Shannon leblanc, head field hockey coach and event planning committee co-chair, highlighted the past significance of the River Hawk Open. “This is so important because its a tribute to the work of Clare Chamberlain and Denise Legault, who were the two women that founded women’s athletics here in 1975,” LeBlanc stated.”For me, it’s in honor of them paving the way for this event to eventually happen and building upon what they started.”

Pro Tip: Engaging alumni is crucial for the success of fundraising events. Consider offering exclusive benefits or recognition to alumni participants to encourage their continued support.

Event Highlights and Future Plans

The River Hawk Open featured an 18-hole tournament with a shotgun start, followed by a lunch programme that included raffles and video highlights from all the River Hawk women’s teams. UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, along with Coutts, LeBlanc, and Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Excellence alison Quandt Westgate, delivered remarks during the speaking program.

Former field hockey student-athlete Bianca Jones (’15) shared her perspective on the event’s growth, noting, “The first year it was a lot smaller, but now it’s just an array of people connected to the UMass Lowell community, so it’s awesome to see how big it’s grown and how much everyone looks forward to it every year.”