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Meet the 15 teams who made the first cut at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship

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After 54 holes of stroke play, the field of 30 teams at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course is now 15 after Sunday evening’s cut.

No. 1 Stanford paces the field after 54 holes, sitting at 21 under and in position to be the No. 1 seed yet again heading into match play. In the individual race, the No. 1 player in college golf is tied for the lead in what is a loaded leaderboard.

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Come Monday, the top eight teams after the final round of stroke play will make match play, which begins Tuesday morning.

Meet the 15 teams who made the first cut at Omni La Costa:

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Best photos from the 2026 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Omni La Costa

A general view of signage on the course during the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa on May 22, 2026 in Carlsbad, California.

(Luke Hales, Getty Images)

NCAA Women’s Golf Championship teams to make the cut

1. Stanford, 21 under

The top-ranked team in the country is acting like it through 54 holes at Omni La Costa. Meja Ortengren is solo third while Megha Ganne is T-4, and the Cardinal are looking for their sixth straight stroke play title at NCAAs. With a spot in match play all but locked up, the only thing to be determined is Stanford’s opponent come Tuesday morning.

2. USC, 16 under

The second-ranked team in the country is also in a position on the leaderboard that won’t shock many people. Senior Catherine Park is is tied for first on the leaderboard while Jasmine Koo and Bailey Shoemaker are also in the top 20. Anything can happen come match play, but USC looks best equipped to challenge Stanford.

3. Oklahoma State, 10 under

Perhaps the surprise of the leaderboard is the Cowgirls, who started strong Friday and have continued that play throughout the weekend. Ellie Bushnell and Marta Silchenko are tied for sixth and pacing Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls finished runner-up in 2021 and are position to return to match play for the first time since then.

4. Texas, 6 under

College golf’s No. 1 player has paced the way for the Longhorns, as junior Farah O’Keefe is tied for the lead after three rounds. She has three wins this spring and is looking for her biggest yet. Selina Leo also had an eagle Sunday while signing for 67. It would be the third time in four years making match play for Texas.

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T-5. Iowa State, 3 under

The Big 12 champions have continued their stellar play and are looking to steal a spot in match play at nationals. Alexandra Vidal Rivera leads the way, sitting T-12. The Cyclones were seven shots better Sunday than Saturday and will need another similar performance to make match play. They’re looking for their first match-play appearance.

T-5. Arkansas, 3 under

The Razorbacks have played solid golf through the first three days at Omni La Costa. All three rounds have been within five shots of one another, and they’re another solid round away from making match play, which is the ultimate goal at Omni La Costa. Defending NCAA medalist Maria Jose Marin is T-12.

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T-7. Florida, 2 over

The highlight of Florida’s week was Siuue Wu’s 64 on Saturday, tying the record for lowest score in an NCAA Championship. That can change if the Gators can find a way to get into match play. In a three-way tie for seventh, the Gators will be among the teams battling for the final couple spots come Monday. Florida hasn’t played match play since 2017.

T-7. Arizona State, 2 over

Arizona State’s first under-par round comes at a good time. Beth Coulter, at T-15, leads the way for the Sun Devils, but a strong performance Sunday has them right on the cut line. To make match play for the first time since 2021, ASU has to continue its play from Sunday into the final round.

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T-7. Duke, 2 over

After missing out on NCAAs last year, Dan Brooks has guided the Blue Devils back to Omni La Costa, but Monday is bound to be stressful as Duke is on the cut line with 18 holes to go. Duke hasn’t made match play since 2021, but a strong round Monday will end that streak. Freshman standout Rianne Malixi is T-10.

10. Eastern Michigan, 6 over

The mid-major that’s acting like a Power 4 school has some work to do to make match play in its first NCAA Championship. It has been a historic year for Eastern Michigan, which made the NCAA postseason for the first time. However, EMU will have to do better than its consecutive over-par rounds on the weekend to make the cut.

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T-11. Pepperdine, 8 over

After opening in 8 over on Friday, Pepperdine sits at that same margin following the weekend and is on the outside looking in for making match play. It’s not too much to ask for the Waves, one of the best mid-majors in the country, and they’ve also improved their score after every round. Even more will be needed Monday.

T-11. Missouri, 8 over

In a similar story to Pepperdine, the Tigers have an 8-over round (on Saturday) and then shot even par combined in the other two rounds. Missouri has never made match play at the NCAA Championship, and to do so for the first time on Monday, they’ll have to put together one of the best rounds of the season.

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T-13. SMU, 10 over

SMU was in great position to make match play after two rounds but shot 9 over on Sunday to just make the 54-hole cut. Now to make match play for the first time, SMU is going to have to fix its mistakes from Sunday and turn them around in a big way.

T-13. North Carolina, 10 over

North Carolina is the only team from the afternoon wave to play themselves into the final round from the afternoon. The Tar Heels shoot 1 under in the afternoon and have a Monday tee time but will have a ton of work to do to make match play.

15. Northwestern, 12 over

The defending national champions are the final team to make the cut. They’ve gotten two shots worse every round at Omni La Costa, but it was still enough to make the first cut. As for getting back into match play, the Wildcats are going to need an incredible round.

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This article originally appeared on Golfweek: NCAA Women’s Golf Championship 2026: 15 teams who made the first cut

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