Story by UNK Athletic Communications
The Nebraska-Kearney women's golf team is in the NCAA Championships for the fifth time in program history.
The Lopers received an at-large bid after being regionally-ranked all spring and finishing in the top two in six different tournaments. UNK is the sixth seed in the Central Region for a second straight spring and heads to Larchwood, Ia., May 8-10 for a 54-hole tournament. The nine-team field will be at the Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort with Augustana the host school.
Several of the qualifiers took part in the Central Region Preview in the fall at Larchwood. Augie placed first in the 36-hole event (909/305-304) with UNK the runner up (919; 312-307).
The D2 NCAA women's golf field features 48 teams and 24 individuals competing at four regional sites (Larchwood, Springfield, Ill., Dallas, Texas and Gainesville, Ga.). The top three Central teams, along with the top two individuals not on those teams, move on to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis on May 16-20.
UNK previously received at-large bids to the NCAA's in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and an auto bid last spring. The Lopers were seventh in 2002, its top showing in this event.
Central Regional
Teams:
1. Henderson State [Great American Conference auto bid]
2. Central Missouri [Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association auto bid]
3. Rogers State
4. Augustana [Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference auto bid]
5. Northeastern State
6. Nebraska Kearney
7. Central Oklahoma
8. Harding (Ark.)
9. Missouri Western State
Individuals:
1. Paige Hoffman, Northwest Missouri State
2. Morgan Brasser, Fort Hays State
3. Carly Moon, Winona (Minn.) State
4. Ellen Spigner, Arkansas Tech
5. Morgan Becker, Oklahoma Baptist
6. Gabriela Maldonado, Arkansas-Monticello