INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA Division II Women's Golf Committee announced the field for the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships on Sunday evening, with SWOSU earning a spot for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.
The Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 5 in the Central Region, will compete alongside 17 other teams from the Great American Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Central Regional will be held May 4-6 at St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, Missouri.
All teams will compete over 54 holes across three days. The top five teams and two individuals not on an advancing team will advance to the NCAA National Championship, set for May 12-16 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
SWOSU finished seventh at last year's regional, with
Drew Dodgion advancing as an individual to the national championship. In 2024, the Lady Bulldogs placed runner-up at the regional to earn one of three program appearances at nationals (2014, 2019, 2024).
The Bulldogs are led by two of the region's top players in
Maria Velilla (No. 4) and
Freya Sala (No. 8). Sala recently earned her second consecutive unanimous First Team All-GAC selection and was a WGCA All-American last season. Velilla was named the 2026 GAC Freshman of the Year and joined Sala as a First Team All-GAC honoree. SWOSU won two stroke play tournaments this year and has finished third or better six times.
Central Regional
St. Joseph Country Club
St. Joseph, Missouri
Host: St. Joseph, MO Sports Commission and Missouri Western State University
Teams:
1. Arkansas Tech
2. Rogers State
3. Southwestern Oklahoma State
4. Washburn
5. Central Missouri
6. Arkansas-Fort Smith
7. Central Oklahoma
8. Henderson State
9. Nebraska-Kearney
10. Harding
11. Minnesota State Mankato
12. Northwest Missouri
13. Missouri Western
14. Wayne State (Nebraska)
15. Missouri Southern State
16. Winona State
17. Concordia-St. Paul
18. Augustana (South Dakota)
Individuals:
1. Morgan Simmons, Oklahoma Baptist
2. Jessica Parker, Northeastern State
3. Carley Button, Southeastern Oklahoma State
4. Haley Whittern, Southern Nazarene
5. Brianna Chamoun, Southern Arkansas
6. Gracie Doke, Northwestern Oklahoma State
