The women’s college golf postseason is here, as Division I regionals continued Tuesday across the country.
The six regional championship sites feature 12 teams and six individuals (72 teams and 36 individuals, total), with play beginning on Monday, May 6 and ending Wednesday, May 8. The top five teams (30 total) and the top individual (6 total) not on a qualifying team from each regional will advance to the national championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, May 17-22.
Below you’ll find a recap, as well as a breakdown of what to watch for Wednesday from each regional as the second round concludes from all six sites.
College golf: Breaking down the six regional sites
Team leader: Auburn, 1 over
Individual leader: Moa Svedenskiold, Houston, 3 under
The hook: Top-seeded South Carolina is in trouble. The only time a top seed hasn’t advanced from a regional was UCLA in 2017. South Carolina was 17 over on Tuesday and fell outside of the top five. However, it trails Tulsa and Georgia by only two shots going into the final round.
If the cut were today: 1. Auburn, 2. Houston, 3. North Carolina, 4. Oregon, 5. Tulsa, Georgia
What to watch for Wednesday: Whether South Carolina can avoid a bad kind of history and bounce back from its sub-par performance.
Team leader: Wake Forest, 18 under
Individual leader: Bailey Davis, Tennessee, 10 under
The hook: There are five teams under par after the first two rounds at the Bermuda Run Regional, and there are six shots between fifth and sixth with 18 holes to play. Wake Forest, Texas and Ole Miss seem well locked into three of the five available spots.
If the cut were today: 1. Wake Forest, T-2. Texas, Ole Miss, 4. Mississippi State, 5. Tennessee
What to watch for Wednesday: The last two spots will likely come down to four teams: Mississippi State, Tennessee, Oregon State and North Texas. However, the latter two have a big hill to climb to make nationals.
Team leader: SMU, 6 under
Individual leader: Ingrid Lindblad, LSU, 8 under
The hook: No surprise seeing Ingrid Lindblad at the top of the individual leaderboard. She has been arguably the most consistent player in college golf during her five years in Baton Rouge. She has her Tigers in a great position with one round left.
If the cut were today: 1. SMU, 2. Clemson, T-3. Texas A&M, LSU, 5. Ohio State
What to watch for Wednesday: The race for the fifth spot. It seems to be Ohio State or Vanderbilt’s for the taking, but could someone else go low?
Team leader: Stanford, 17 under
Individual leader: Rachel Heck, Stanford; Paula Martin Sampedro, Stanford (7 under)
The hook: Is Rachel Heck finding her groove? That’s bad news for the rest of college golf. She’s tied for the lead, and the 2021 NCAA individual champion has Stanford in excellent position for yet another regional title.
If the cut were today: 1. Stanford, 2. Duke, 3. Virginia, 4. Arizona State, 5. Long Beach State
What to watch for Wednesday: With Stanford and Duke comfortable ahead, it is looking as if it could be a battle of six teams for three spots, and even more likely is five teams for two spots with Arizona State having a four-shot lead out of that bunch.
Team leader: USC, 6 under
Individual leader: Bailey Shoemaker, USC, 8 under
The hook: As expected, a big move by Michigan State with the low round of the day. However, only 10 shots separates USC in first from two teams tied for seventh. This regional looks as if it is going to come down to the wire.
If the cut were today: 1. USC, 2. Northwestern, 3. Pepperdine, 4. Michigan State, 5. Florida
What to watch for Wednesday: The top-five seeds are the top-five teams with 18 holes to play. However, Denver, Kentucky and Oklahoma State are within striking distance to steal a nationals berth.
Team leader: Arkansas, 16 under
Individual leader: Lottie Woad, 10 under
The hook: Lottie Woad hasn’t played a college event since March, but she has gotten plenty of playing experience under her belt. And it’s showing. She leads by a stroke heading into the final round, however, the Seminoles are fourth. They have a four-shot cushion over sixth.
If the cut were today: 1. Arkansas, 2. Purdue, 3. UCLA, 4. Florida State, 5. Baylor
What to watch for Wednesday: With only three shots between fifth and seventh heading into the final round, it’s going to take a strong performance from a chaser or a bad one from a top team to have a chance in who makes NCAAs from Las Vegas.
