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 8 and ending Wednesday, May 10. 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 Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, May 19-24.
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
Golfstat leaderboards: Scores from all six regionals
Athens regional
Team leader: Georgia
Individual leader: Anna Morgan, Furman
The hook: After an hour weather delay to begin the day, Georgia was the only team to shoot under par on its home course and has a nine-shot advantage heading to Tuesday. San Jose State and Maryland are tied for the fourth at 7 over, but Furman and Ole Miss are only two shots back and ready to pounce.
If the cut were today: 1. Georgia; 2. Ohio State; 3. South Carolina; T-4. San Jose State, Maryland
What to watch for Tuesday: Expect Georgia to continue to play well on its home course, but the battle for the final two spots in this regional could be fierce.
Post Round 1️⃣ Frames 📸#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/J7cndhGSx5
— Georgia Women's Golf (@UGAWomensGolf) May 8, 2023
Palm Beach regional
Team leader: Michigan State
Individual leader: Brooke Biermann, Michigan State
The hook: Tenth-seeded South Florida is off to spectacular start, trailing only Michigan State after the first round in Florida. However, only six shots separate second place from 10th, and with plenty of golf to play, there’s opportunities for teams to quickly rise up the leaderboard.
If the cut were today: 1. Michigan State; 2. South Florida; 3. Arkansas; T-4. Duke, LSU, Texas (playoff)
What to watch for Tuesday: Plenty of shuffling on the leaderboard. Michigan State is 11 shots ahead, but behind them could be completely different after the second round.
One round down, two to go. #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/QmulILz0tB
— Spartan Women's Golf (@MSU_WGolf) May 8, 2023
Pullman regional
Team leader: Stanford
Individual leader: Rose Zhang, Stanford; Sadie Englemann, Stanford
The hook: Well well, looks who’s at the top of the leaderboard. If you were surprised to see Stanford, don’t be. Although the Cardinal miss Rachel Heck, it remains the defending national champion and has the best women’s golfer in the world sporting the logo. Check out 10th-seeded Sacramento State, inside the cut line after the opening 18 holes.
If the cut were today: 1. Stanford; 2. USC; 3. Texas Tech; 4. Sacramento State; T-5. Houston, Baylor (playoff)
What to watch for Tuesday: Look for Stanford and USC to continue battling it out for the top spot, but Kentucky, which sits five shots back of the cut, should make a push.
At 21-under, the Cardinal registered its second-best 18-hole team score in program history today to open the Pullman Regional!
The Regional has entered a 🌧️ delay, but we are in the clubhouse! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/zMd02kds7T
— Stanford Women's Golf (@StanfordWGolf) May 8, 2023
Raleigh regional
Team leader: N.C. State
Individual leader: Lauren Olivares, N.C. State; Lottie Woad, Florida State
The hook: The biggest surprise has to be the top-ranked team in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, Wake Forest, sitting five shots outside the cutline after the first day. Eighth-seeded N.C. State on top after a strong start, but Florida State and Arizona State are close behind. With not a lot of separation at the top, there could be movement come Tuesday.
If the cut were today: 1. N.C. State; 2. Florida State; 3. Arizona State; 4. Arizona; 5. Purdue
What to watch for Tuesday: Expect Wake Forest to make a push to get inside the cut. If not, a major upset is brewing.
STRONG start to the postseason for our Pack!#GoPack pic.twitter.com/nirjWRTqyC
— PackWGolf⛳️ (@PackWGolf) May 8, 2023
San Antonio regional
Team leader: Oklahoma State; Texas A&M
Individual leader: Zoe Campos, UCLA; Thitaporn Saithip, Oklahoma State
The hook: Seeing top-seeded Texas A&M and Big 12 champion Oklahoma State at the top shouldn’t be a surprise, but Auburn being six shots below the cutline is. The Tigers are in eighth, trailing Pepperdine and Denver, who are just outside the cutline. However, Auburn is within nine shots of the co-leaders, so a strong day Tuesday would completely flip the script.
If the cut were today: T-1. Oklahoma State, Texas A&M; 3. SMU; T-4. New Mexico, T-4. UCLA
What to watch for Tuesday: Plenty of movement on the leaderboard. No regional is playing as tough as San Antonio, meaning there will be plenty of shuffling.
Right where we belong after 1⃣8⃣#GolfSchool l #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/53gmHS9OcE
— OSU Cowgirl Golf (@OSUcowgirlgolf) May 8, 2023
Westfield regional
Team leader: Tulsa
Individual leader: Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mississippi State
The hook: Perhaps the regional with the craziest leaderboard after day one, sixth-seeded Tulsa leads, No. 9 Oregon State is inside the cutline and the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds, Oregon and Vanderbilt, are behind the 8 ball after the opening round. In the Ducks’ case, they sit eight shots behind the cut line after the opening day.
If the cut were today: 1. Tulsa; 2. Mississippi State; 3. Michigan; T-4. Iowa State, T-4. Oregon State
What to watch for Tuesday: Expect the defending national runners-up to make a major push up the leaderboard, as Oregon’s experience will help it climb out of a hole.
Tulsa Leads Indiana Regional With 9-Under Par First Round Scorehttps://t.co/rzNOzOd4Kg pic.twitter.com/lkykx8YcO4
— Tulsa W Golf (@TulsaWGolf) May 8, 2023
