ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's golf team opened play Monday at the 2026 NCAA Central Regional Tournament.
 
Northwest shot a team score of 316 (+28) in the opening round. The Bearcats are in sixth place in the team standings. Northwest is six shots out of third/fourth place and seven shots behind the leaders Rogers State and Henderson State.
 
The 54-hole event is being staged at the St. Joseph Country Club with the St. Joseph Sports Commission serving as the host. The regional is being played on a par-72 and measuring 5,966 yards. It is the second straight season the Bearcats have competed in the NCAA Regional.
 
Northwest generated nine birdies as a team to rank tied for the second-most in the tournament field in Monday's first round. Lauren Briggs poured in three birdies on her back nine Monday at No. 12, No. 16 and No. 18. Her three birdies tied for the fifth-most by an individual in the tournament with Harding's Pilar Martinez, Concordia-St. Paul's Darby Barstad, Missouri Southern's Katarina Chynoranska and Concordia-St. Paul's Piper Hill leading the way with four birdies. Briggs recorded Northwest's low round of the day with a five-over score of 77.
 
Shaylee Ficken produced a pair of birdies at No. 6 and No. 15. Lexi Bartley also netted two birdies on the back nine of her opening round with birdies at No. 12 and No. 17.
 
Most Team Birdies Round One
1. Rogers State                          10
2. Northwest Missouri State         9
3. Arkansas-Fort Smith.               8
  Southwestern Oklahoma State  8
     Concordia-St. Paul                  8
6. Washburn                                 7
     Minnesota State                      7
     Missouri Southern                   7
 
The top four teams along with the top two individuals not on an advancing team will advance to the NCAA Championship meet. The NCAA Championship meet will be held May 12-16 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The number of participants that qualify for the finals is 98.
 
The second round is set for Tuesday with the final round to be completed Wednesday.

The top four teams along with the top two individuals not on an advancing team will advance to the NCAA Championship meet. The NCAA Championship meet will be held May 12-16 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The number of participants that qualify for the finals is 98.
 
The second round is set for Tuesday with the final round to be completed Wednesday.
 
NORTHWEST'S INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T14. Lauren Briggs       77 (+5)
T24. Clara Peake           79 (+7)
T24. Beatriz Pinheiro  79 (+7)
T45. Lexi Bartley            81 (+9)
T45. Shaylee Ficken   81 (+9)
 
TEAM SCORING THROUGH ROUND ONE
1. Rogers State            309 (+21)
     Henderson State     309 (+21)
3. Washburn                310 (+22)
     Nebraska-Kearney 310 (+22)
5. Minnesota State      315 (+27)
6. Northwest Mo. St.   316 (+28)
Concordia-St. Paul      316 (+28)
8. Ark.-Fort Smith        317 (+29)
     SW Okla. St.          317 (+29)
10. Central Missouri    318 (+30)
11. Mo. Southern         319 (+31)
12. Central Okla.         320 (+32)
13. Arkansas Tech       322 (+34)
14. Mo. Western          325 (+37)
15. Wayne State          328 (+40)
16. Winona St.             331 (+43)
17. Harding                  332 (+44)
        Augustana           332 (+44)