AFTON, Okla. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's golf team had a strong opening round to the Spring Regional Preview held at Shangri La Country Club.
 
Northwest shot an opening-round score of 297, which ranks tied for the sixth-best 18-hole team score in Bearcat history. The Bearcat women collected 14 birdies in the opening round helped by five each from Clara Peake and Shaylee Ficken. Arkansas Tech led the field with 15 birdies on Sunday.
 
NORTHWEST'S ALL-TIME LOW 18-HOLE TEAM SCORES
1. 290, 1st Round Grace Shin Regional Preview - 10/7/2024
2. 294, 2nd Round NCAA Central Regional - 5/5/2025
3. 295, 2nd Round, Midwest Intercollegiate - 10/17/2023
4 296, 2nd Round SWMSU Mustang Invite - 9/29/2024
   296, 1st Round NCAA Central Regional - 5/5/2025
6. 297, 2nd Round Grace Shin Regional Preview - 10/8/2024
    297, 1st Round Grace Shin Invitational - 10/6/2025
    297, 1st Round Spring Region Preview – 4/5/2026
8. 298, 3rd Round, MIAA Championship - 04/24/2019
    298, 2nd Round Grace Shin Invitational - 10/7/2025
    298, 1st Round Midwest Classic - 10/13/2025
 
Peake is tied for first with Central Oklahoma's Layne Alishe, who both opened the three-round tournament with two-under par 70s. Peake posted birdies at No. 1, No. 4, No. 11,  No. 12 and No. 17. Peake's round of 70 is tied for the fifth-best single-round score in program history.
 
NORTHWEST'S ALL-TIME LOW 18-HOLE INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. 68, Paige Hoffman, NCAA Central Region - 2023
    68, Paige Hoffman, Midwest Intercollegiate - 2023
    68, Paige Hoffman, Grace Shin Regional Preview - 2024
4. 69, Gia Zupancic, MIAA Fall Preview - 2017
5. 70, Morgan Thiele, MIAA Championship - 2019
    70, Paige Hoffman, NSU Golf Classic - 2022
    70, Paige Hoffman, SWMSU Mustang invite - 2024
    70, Paige Hoffman, Grace Shin Regional Preview - 2024
    70, Lauren Briggs, Grace Shin Invitational – 2025
    70, Clara Peake, Spring Regional Preview – 2026
 
 
Ficken fired an even-par round of 72 and is tied for fourth in the field. Ficken drained birdies at No. 6, No. 8, No. 9, No. 11 and No. 18.
 
The 54-hole event is playing to a par-72 measuring at 5,813 yards. The second round is set for Monday and the final round will be contested on Tuesday.
 
NORTHWEST SCORES
T1. Clara Peake          70 (-2)
T4. Shaylee Ficken     72 (E)
T23. Lauren Briggs     77 (+5)
T31. Lexi Bartley        78 (+6)
T77. Carleigh Reoh    84 (+12)
 
TEAM SCORES
1. Arkansas Tech                       295 (+7)
2. Northwest Mo. St.                  297 (+9)
3. Washburn                              300 (+12)
4. Central Missouri                    304 (+16)
     Rogers State                        304 (+16)
     Central Oklahoma                304 (+16)
7. SW Okla. St.                         305 (+17)
8. Oklahoma Baptist                 311 (+23)
9. Harding                                 312 (+24)
10. Southern Arkansas             313 (+25)
11. Wayne State                       316 (+28)
12. Missouri Southern              321 (+33)
13. Southern Nazarene            322 (+34)
       Northwestern Okla. St.      322 (+34)
15. Arkansas-Monticello           326 (+38)
16. Missouri Western                329 (+41)
17. Fort Hays State                  333 (+45)