ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Sophomore Lauren Briggs shot a final round 77 and gained a top-10 finish to lead the Northwest Missouri State University women's golf team at the 2026 NCAA Central Regional Tournament.
 
Briggs tied for 10th in the field of 100 participants with a three-round score of 230 (+14). She tied for second in the tournament with 37 pars over 54 holes.
 
Northwest finished in 10th place among the 18 teams competing at the regional. Northwest shot a final round 332 for a 54-hole total of 957 (+93).
 
The top four teams along with the top two individuals not on an advancing team advanced 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 54-hole event was staged at the St. Joseph Country Club with the St. Joseph Sports Commission serving as the host. The regional was played on a par-72 and measuring 5,966 yards. It is the second straight season the Bearcats have qualified to compete in the NCAA Regional.
 
Wednesday also marked the release of the weekly national and regional rankings. The Bearcat women are ranked No. 74 in the nation and No. 12 in the Central Region. Clara Peake is ranked No. 173 nationally and No. 17 in the region. Lauren Briggs is ranked No. 237 in the nation and No. 31 in the region.
 
NORTHWEST'S FINAL INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T10. Lauren Briggs     77-76-77—230 (+14)
T24. Clara Peake        79-76-82—237 (+21)
T65. Shaylee Ficken   81-77-88—246 (+30)
T70. Beatriz Pinheiro  79-80-89—248 (+32)
T77. Lexi Bartley         81-84-85—250 (+34)
 
FINAL TEAM SCORING
1. SW Okla. St.             317-303-306—926 (+62)
2. Nebraska-Kearney    310-308-310—928 (+64)
3. Rogers State             309-308-320—937 (+73)
4. Minnesota State        315-303-323—941 (+77)
5. Arkansas Tech           322-303-317—942 (+78)
6. Henderson State       309-332-304—945 (+81)
7. Washburn                  310-310-326—946 (+82)
8. Ark.-Fort Smith          317-328-308—953 (+89)
9. Central Okla.             320-316-319—955 (+91)
10. Northwest                316-309-332—957 (+93)
11. Harding                    332-306-320—958 (+94)
12. Concordia-St. Paul  316-322-322—960 (+96)
     Mo. Southern            319-313-328—960 (+96)
14. Central Missouri       318-319-325—962 (+98)
15. Augustana                332-314-317—963 (+99)
16. Mo. Western             325-321-330—976 (+112)
17. Wayne State             328-323-326—977 (+113)
18. Winona St.                331-338-326—995 (+131)