In a historic achievement, Northwestern University secured the 2025 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship, clinching their first-ever title by overcoming Stanford in a thrilling match at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The championship mark is a significant milestone for the Wildcats.
DIANNA LEE CLINCHES THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR NORTHWESTERN! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DkT7Wm9X14
— Northwestern Athletics (@NU_Sports) May 22, 2025
Selection Process and Championship Format
The NCAA committee selected 72 teams, including automatic qualifiers, alongside 36 individual players not associated with those teams to participate in the competition. The tournament was divided across six regional sites, with each site featuring 12 teams and six individual participants. From each regional, five teams and the leading individual competitor not part of an advancing team moved forward to the finals.
For further details on the selection process, please see the full list of selections.
2025 DI Women’s Golf Championship Overview
The championship took place from May 16 to May 21, 2025. Key results include:
- Match Play Finals: Stanford 2, Northwestern 3
- Semifinals Recap:
- Stanford 3, Florida State 1
- Northwestern 3, Oregon 2
- Quarterfinal Results:
- Stanford 3, Virginia 1
- Florida State 3, Southern California 1
- Oregon 3, Texas 2
- Northwestern 3, Arkansas 2
Northwestern advanced through consistent team performance, achieving scores that positioned them well in each phase of the tournament.
Individual Championship
Arkansas’ Maria Jose Marin distinguished herself by winning the individual title with an impressive score of 276. Following her in the rankings were:
- 2. Mirabel Ting, Florida State – 278
- 3. Kelly Xu, Stanford – 280
Championship History
The tournament’s history reveals a competitive landscape, as evidenced by Stanford’s previous victory in 2024, where they defeated UCLA. The individual title that year went to Adela Cernousek from Texas A&M, marking a significant achievement as she became the first golfer from her school to achieve such recognition.
Recent Championship Results
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Northwestern | Stanford | 3-2 |
| 2024 | Stanford | UCLA | 3-2 |
Regional Sites and Finalists
The regional sites for the championship included various top teams from across the nation:
- Charlottesville: South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, Virginia, UCLA
- Columbus: Kansas, Arkansas, Ohio State, UNLV, LSU
- Gold Canyon: Oregon, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Cal State Fullerton
- Lexington: Florida State, Georgia Southern, Kansas State, Southern California, Vanderbilt
- Lubbock: Wake Forest, Texas, Iowa State, Tennessee, Purdue
- Norman: Stanford, Northwestern, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Baylor
In summary, the 2025 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship showcased not only a remarkable victory for Northwestern but also highlighted extraordinary individual performances and the continued evolution of collegiate golf.
