The NCAA Division I women's golf regionals concluded Wednesday, delivering a day of record-breaking performances, dramatic playoffs, and surprising upsets. Thirty teams and six individual golfers secured their spots at the NCAA Championships, setting the stage for an unforgettable postseason.
Top-ranked Stanford stole the show, putting on a clinic at home. The Cardinal shattered the NCAA regional record with a jaw-dropping 42-under-par performance, winning their host site by an incredible 38 strokes. It was a statement victory that solidifies Stanford as the team to beat heading into the national tournament.
While the favorites dominated, the regionals also saw their share of chaos. For the second consecutive year, three No. 3 seeds—Mississippi State, UCF, and UCLA—failed to advance from their respective sites. Meanwhile, lower seeds rose to the occasion: No. 9 Oregon State and No. 8 Texas Tech punched their tickets out of the Stanford and Ann Arbor regionals, respectively, proving that postseason golf is anything but predictable.
The drama peaked in two thrilling playoffs. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Virginia and Michigan State survived a tense 3-for-2 playoff, edging out host North Carolina State in heartbreaking fashion. Down in Waco, Texas, Tennessee outlasted Tulsa in extra holes to keep their championship hopes alive.
Here's a full recap of the action from each regional site:
Ann Arbor, Michigan (University of Michigan GC, Par 71)
Advancing teams: 1. USC (+1), 2. Ohio State (+6), 3. Duke (+16), 4. Northwestern (+17), 5. Texas Tech (+22)
Eliminated: 6. UCF (+24), 7. Kansas (+34), 8. Oklahoma (+41), 8. UNLV (+41), 10. Columbia (+51), 11. Quinnipiac (+72), 12. Oakland (+82)
Individual champion: Ashley Yun, Northwestern (-5)
Advancing individual: Isabella McCauley, Minnesota (-3)
The story: USC showed its depth, cruising to a team win behind consistent play across the board.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Advancing teams: 1. Texas (-5), 2. North Carolina (+6), 3. Oklahoma State (+8), 4. Virginia (+18; won playoff), 4. Michigan State (+18; won playoff)
Eliminated: 6. North Carolina State (+18; lost playoff), 7. Mississippi State (+21), 8. Kent State (+22), 9. High Point (+39), 10. Furman (+49), 11. Richmond (+62), 12. Howard (+67)
Individual champions: Marta Silchenko, Oklahoma State, and Thanana Kotchasanmanee, Princeton (-6)
Advancing individual: Kotchasanmanee
Other Regional Highlights
Wake Forest (-8) led the pack at their site, finishing ahead of Florida State (-4) and Florida (-3). Eastern Michigan (+5) and Kentucky (+6) also advanced, while UCLA (+9) was among the notable teams sent home. Sophia Fullbrook earned individual medalist honors, showcasing the depth of talent across the field.
With the regionals now in the rearview mirror, all eyes turn to the NCAA Championships. Will Stanford continue its dominant run? Can a lower seed pull off another upset? One thing is certain: the road to a national title just got a whole lot more exciting.