NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships: Columbus Regional Overview
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Golden Grizzlies women’s golf team is set to compete in the Columbus Regional as they earned a coveted automatic spot in the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships. The NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Committee has officially announced the selected teams and individual participants for the upcoming regional tournaments taking place from May 5 to May 7.
Golden Grizzlies’ Journey to the Regionals
Seeded twelfth, the Golden Grizzlies will face a competitive lineup as they pursue a chance to qualify for the NCAA Championship in California. The regional competition will feature six sites with a total of 396 participants comprised of 12 teams and six individual competitors at each location. The top five finishing teams from each regional site, along with the lowest-scoring individual not associated with an advancing team, will secure spots at the national championships, scheduled for May 16-21 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
Defying the Odds: Horizon League Champions
The Golden Grizzlies recently claimed the 2025 Horizon League title, showcasing remarkable resilience by overcoming a 14-stroke deficit. Key players, including Nateda Her, Olivia Hemmila, Grace Boczar, and Lily Bargamian, delivered outstanding performances, particularly during the final two rounds of play. Hemmila, Boczar, and Bargamian received recognition for their impressive showings by being named to the All-Tournament team.
Leadership Under Coach Heather Fortushniak
In her inaugural season, Head Coach Heather Fortushniak will guide the Golden Grizzlies through their first NCAA Regional appearance. Fortushniak’s leadership has solidified the team’s dominance within the Horizon League, leading them to three titles in four seasons.
Columbus Regional Competition Details
The Columbus Regional will take place at the OSU Golf Club, hosted by Ohio State University. Here are the details of the participating teams:
- 1. Arkansas
- 2. LSU
- 3. Ohio State
- 4. Kansas
- 5. Houston
- 6. SMU
- 7. UNLV (Mountain West Conference)
- 8. Illinois
- 9. Kent State (Mid-American Conference)
- 10. Illinois State (Missouri Valley Conference)
- 11. Xavier (Big East Conference)
- 12. Oakland (Horizon League)
Individual Competitors
Several individuals will also compete for glory, including:
- Isabella McCauley, Minnesota
- Vanessa Zhang, Harvard (The Ivy League)
- Savannah de Bock, Eastern Michigan
- Mara Janess, Michigan
- Neeranuch Prajunpanich, Youngstown State (Horizon League)
- Jillian Cosler, Bradley (Missouri Valley Conference)
Support the Golden Grizzlies as they take to the course at the Columbus Regional from May 5 to May 7 at the OSU Golf Club, embarking on their journey to the national championships.
