We’re heading back to Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., for the third year in a row – it’s time for the 2026 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Golf Championships, which will run May 22-27, 2026.
Fairway to Green will be onsite covering the talented golfers, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X and LinkedIn.
Here is your guide to everything you need to know about this week.
How to Watch the NCAA Golf Championships
Golf Channel will be showing live coverage May 25-27, or the final three days of the championship. This will cover the final stroke play round that names the individual champion and the two rounds of match play that will determine the victorious team.
Golf Channel Live Coverage
Monday, May 25: 5:30-9:30pm ET
Tuesday, May 26: 1:00-3:30pm ET and 6:00-10:00pm ET
Wednesday, May 27: 6:00-10:00pm ET
Fairway to Green will also be posting throughout the day on social media and publishing recaps daily on the website and in the newsletter for the entire duration of the tournament (May 22-27).
Which Teams Are Competing in the NCAA Golf Championships?
72 teams competed in Regionals last week at 6 sites throughout the country. The top 5 teams from each region and the top 6 individuals not on those teams advanced to the finals.
The Top 30 Women’s Golf Teams (in alphabetical order):
- Arizona State
- Arkansas
- Auburn
- Baylor
- Duke
- Eastern Michigan
- Florida
- Florida State
- Houston
- Iowa State
- Kentucky
- LSU
- Michigan State
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Northwestern
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma State
- Ole Miss
- Oregon State
- Pepperdine
- SMU
- Southern California
- Stanford
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- Virginia
- Wake Forest
The 6 Individual Qualifiers (in alphabetical order):
- Emma Bunch (New Mexico State)
- Isabella McCauley (Minnesota)
- Johanna Sjursen (University of Louisiana Monroe)
- Kirstin Angosta (Texas Christian University)
- Sheridan Clancy (Indiana University)
- Thanana Kotchasanmanee (Princeton)
Who Won the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Golf Championships?
Northwestern had the best upset last year, defeating 2024 champions Stanford for their first ever national title. The win came down to the final putt of the final hole of the final match. Dianna Lee putted in for par to secure the title for Northwestern.
Individually, Maria José Marin (Arkansas) shot 12-under to win by two over the 2025 Annika Award winner Mirabel Ting (Florida State). You may recognize Marin from her recent win at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur just last month.
Both Northwestern and Marin will be back to defend their titles this week.
What Is the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Format?
The first 72 holes – or 4 days – will be stroke play for all qualifiers (including the 6 individuals), with the fourth day determining the individual NCAA champion and the top 8 teams that will compete in the next phase for the team win. There will be a cut after the second round to the top 15 teams and 6 individuals not included in those top teams.
The last two days – May 21-22 – will be match play and determine the ultimate champions.
Where Is the NCAA Division 1 Golf Championship Being Played?
The 2026 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship will be held at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. This would have been the end of the original three-year contract, but it has been extended with the hope that the NCAA Division 1 Championship for both the women and men will be hosted here permanently.
This year’s host for the women’s championship is the University of Texas.
The team at Fairway to Green is excited to be onsite to share the exciting golf that is about to be played. Stay tuned at @fairwaytogreen on Instagram, Tiktok @fairwaytogreen and @fairwayto_green on X
