Women's Golf tied for 23rd place after Day 1 of the 2026 NCAA Championships

PALM DESERT, Calif — The Ohio Northern women's golf team is tied for 23rd place in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA III Championships on a sunny Tuesday. 

The Basics

• Ohio Northern is tied for 23rd of 34 teams after 18 of the 72 holes in the opening round. 
• ONU Season Record: 50-25 Overall.
• Venue: Desert Willow Golf Resort - Palm Desert, California.
• The 2026 championship will consist of both team and individual competition play over 72 holes.
• After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 15 teams and the top six individuals not on advancing teams.

ONU Individuals

• Senior Marisa Alfes (Bellbrook) led the Orange and Black with a 75. 
• She is tied for 34th of 176 golfers on the par-72, 5883-yard course.
• Freshman Addison Williams (Bristolville/Bristol) is also tied for 102nd with an 81.
• Sophomore Mallory Meister (Milan/Edison) is tied for 114th with an 82.
• Sophomore Taylor Blackburn (Liberty Township/Lakota West) is tied for 128th with an 84. 
• Freshman Myra Batra (New Delhi, India/Shiv Nadar School) is tied for 149th with an 88. 

Notables

• This is Ohio Northerns third appearance in the NCAA III Championships. 
• The Polar Bears received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championships after capturing the third OAC title in program history.
• Alfes was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Golfer of the Year.
• Alfes and Williams were both First Team All-OAC selections.
• Meister earned Second Team All-OAC honors.
• Alfes leads the team in scoring this season with an average of 77.9 for 20 rounds.
• Williams is second at 83.9, Meister is third at 84.7 and Blackburn is fourth at 85.5.
• Head coach Chad Bucci is 577-340-2 in his 13th season at the helm of the ONU women's golf team, a winning percentage of .629.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will return to action for Day 2 of NCAA III Championships at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif.