College golf’s championship season rolls on to regionals this week, with the women first to play.
The six regional championship sites feature 12 teams and six individuals (72 teams and 36 individuals, total), with play beginning on Monday, May 9 and ending Wednesday, May 11. The top four teams (24 total) and the top two individuals (12 total) not on a qualifying team from each regional will advance to the national championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, May 20-25.
Below you’ll find a recap, as well as a breakdown of what to watch for from each regional as the first round concludes from all six sites.
Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Women’s team | Women’s individual
Albuquerque regional
Team leader: Oregon
Individual leader: Briana Chacon, Oregon
The hook: The Ducks continued to prove they deserve to be included in the conversation as the best team in the nation. Oregon, the Pac-12 champion, is one of two teams in the red at 4 under, with Texas three shots back. Briana Chacon continued her impressive year with an opening-round 7-under 65 to take a three-shot lead.
If the cut were today: 1. Oregon; 2. Texas; 3. Florida; T-4 TCU, Georgia (playoff)
What to watch for Tuesday: Expect Oregon, Texas and Florida to stay at the top of the pack, but the fight for fourth is up for grabs with eight teams within 10 shots.
Ann Arbor regional
Team leader: Arkansas
Individual leaders: T-1 Ela Anacona, Arkansas; Jana Melichova, Old Dominion
The hook: The usual suspects are in the mix after the first round, but the breakout performance comes from Washington, who entered regionals as the No. 8 seed. The Huskies are T-2 with hosts Michigan, just two shots behind 18-hole leader Arkansas.
If the cut were today: 1. Arkansas; T-2 Washington, Michigan; T-4. Virginia, San Jose State (playoff)
What to watch for Tuesday: After day one, 25 shots separate the first and last teams, but just 11 are between leading Arkansas and 11th-place Virginia Tech. With two rounds to play the regional is wide open, but look for UCF (T-8) to bounce back on day 2.
Franklin regional
Team leaders: Duke and Alabama
Individual leaders: Polly Mack, Alabama
The hook: Well this is fun. Nine teams are separated by just 10 shots after day one with four teams within two of each other at the top of the leaderboard. Host Vanderbilt entered as the six seed but are in the early mix for a spot at the NCAA Championships.
If the cut were today: T-1. Duke, Alabama; 3. Vanderbilt; 4. Texas A&M
What to watch for Tuesday: Look for Wake Forest to make a move in the second round but also keep an eye on the individual leaderboard, where East Tennessee State’s Hollie Muse is just a shot back at 6 under.
Stanford regional
Team leader: LSU
Individual leader: Latanna Stone, LSU
The hook: The top three teams all showed up on day one, with the biggest story being Purdue in fourth. The Boilermakers entered the week as the No. 8 seed and are in a good spot to advance.
If the cut were today: 1. LSU; 2. USC; 3. Stanford; 4. Purdue
What to watch for Tuesday: Keep an eye on Iowa State and Ruby Chou. The sophomore is currently one shot out of the individual lead and, alongside Taglao Jeeravivitaporn, has helped put the Cyclones in the mix for a shot at Grayhawk.
Stillwater regional
Team leader: Baylor
Individual leader: Britta Snyder, Baylor
The hook: Four teams have pulled away from the pack in Oklahoma, and each has a shot at the win. Host Oklahoma State is tied with Arizona State in fourth, three shots behind second-place Clemson and four back from leading Baylor.
If the cut were today: 1. Baylor; 2. Clemson; T-3. Oklahoma State, Arizona State
What to watch for Tuesday: Auburn. The Tigers entered as the No. 4 seed, and sit just one spot behind Baylor in the Golfweek/Sagarin ranking at 17th in the nation. After 18 holes, Auburn sits in ninth, 17 shots out of a spot in the NCAA Championships.
Tallahassee regional
Team leader: UCLA
Individual leaders: T-1. Beatrice Wallin, Florida State; Ashley Gilliam, Mississippi State
The hook: All eyes are on the race for fourth, especially Quinnipiac. The Bobcats entered the postseason as the lowest-ranked seed in the region and at No. 161 in the country are the fourth lowest-ranked team to advance to regionals. Quinnipiac currently sits T-4 with South Carolina and Miami, with Georgia Southern, defending national champion Ole Miss, North Florida, College of Charleston and Illinois all within striking distance. Long story short, No. 4 in the region is wide open.
If the cut were today: 1. UCLA; 2. Florida State; 3. Mississippi State; T-4. Quinnipiac, South Carolina, Miami (playoff)
What to watch for Tuesday: Is anyone going to pull away, or will Tallahassee be the closest-contested regional of the postseason? Don’t be surprised if Illinois makes a run in the next two rounds.
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