Division I
NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Fall 2026 Recap: Virginia Leads Clippd Top 25 as National Championship Contenders Emerge
The fall 2026 NCAA Division I women’s golf season featured multiple tournament champions, impressive individual performances and strong competition among the nation’s top-ranked programs.
Virginia enters the winter break ranked No. 1 nationally in the November 4 Scoreboard Powered by Clippd rankings, followed by Wake Forest, Southern California, Duke and Stanford.
The Cavaliers recorded two tournament victories during the fall, while Duke and Stanford also captured two championships apiece. Iowa State and Kansas joined that group with two victories each, demonstrating the depth of competition beyond the top 10.
Wake Forest and Southern California delivered notable first-place stroke play performances, while South Carolina and Arkansas emerged as match play champions at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup and East Lake Cup, respectively.
Individual performances also drew attention, with Stanford’s Meja Ortengren, Texas’ Farah O’Keefe, Arkansas’ Maria Jose Marin and several other players recording multiple victories.
According to Golfweek’s November 10 fall review, the opening months of the season have positioned several programs as national championship contenders while establishing a competitive early race for the ANNIKA Award.
NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Top 25 Rankings
Scoreboard Powered by Clippd | November 4, 2026
- Virginia: 86.96 average weighted points | 46-7-2
- Wake Forest: 84.89 | 40-5-1
- Southern California: 77.48 | 47-4-0
- Duke: 75.28 | 46-3-1
- Stanford: 73.44 | 35-7-0
- Oregon: 69.39 | 28-8-0
- Auburn: 69.09 | 36-11-2
- South Carolina: 68.92 | 39-7-1
- Arizona State: 59.80 | 34-7-2
- Ole Miss: 57.07 | 53-9-0
- UCLA: 56.41 | 31-13-2
- Texas A&M: 56.21 | 39-7-1
- Tennessee: 55.79 | 42-5-1
- Texas: 54.96 | 12-6-0
- Miami: 54.87 | 52-11-0
- Florida: 54.52 | 48-9-2
- Florida State: 53.82 | 38-9-0
- Mississippi State: 50.24 | 47-6-0
- Arkansas: 48.60 | 38-11-1
- Iowa State: 48.11 | 41-16-0
- Virginia Tech: 47.93 | 57-11-0
- Kentucky: 46.70 | 39-15-1
- Purdue: 46.28 | 45-15-1
- Kansas: 45.50 | 60-15-0
- Oklahoma State: 45.47 | 36-18-0
Source: Scoreboard Powered by Clippd National Rankings
Virginia Leads the Nation With Two Fall Championships
Virginia finished the fall ranked No. 1 nationally after producing two tournament victories and four top-two finishes across five events.
The Cavaliers captured their first championship at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational, held September 21–22 at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario, finishing at one over par.
Virginia followed with a tie for second at the Windy City Collegiate Classic at 10 over par before finishing runner-up at the Stanford Intercollegiate at nine under.
The Cavaliers closed the fall by winning the Keswick Cup on October 26, finishing at 25 under par in the nine-team event.
Virginia compiled a 46-7-2 record and led the national rankings with 86.96 average weighted points.
The Cavaliers’ rise was among the most notable developments of the fall. Golfweek reported that Virginia entered the season ranked No. 19 in its preseason rankings before moving to the top of the NCAA rankings.
After opening with sixth place at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, Virginia finished no worse than second in its remaining tournaments. Jaclyn LaHa led the individual performances with two victories, while Miranda Lu also earned an individual title and Zoe Cusack contributed to the team’s results.
Virginia’s Fall Victories:
- Canadian Collegiate Invitational (September 21–22): 1 over par
- Keswick Cup (October 26): 25 under par
Sources: Virginia Clippd Results | Golfweek Fall Review
Wake Forest Claims ANNIKA Title and Stephens Cup Stroke Play Honors
Wake Forest finished the fall ranked No. 2 nationally with 84.89 average weighted points and a 40-5-1 record.
The Demon Deacons opened their season by winning the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, held September 7–9 at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
Wake Forest posted a 24-under-par total of 840 to capture the championship.
The following week, Wake Forest finished first in the stroke play portion of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at six under par.
The Demon Deacons advanced to the match play championship but fell to South Carolina, 3-2, on September 16.
Wake Forest later finished fourth at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational and tied for second at the Landfall Tradition.
Wake Forest’s First-Place Finishes:
- ANNIKA Intercollegiate (September 7–9): 24 under par
- Jackson T. Stephens Cup stroke play (September 14–15): 6 under par
Source: Wake Forest Clippd Results
Southern California Wins Golfweek Red Sky Classic
Southern California finished the fall ranked No. 3 nationally after compiling a 47-4-0 record and 77.48 average weighted points.
The Trojans opened their season with a runner-up finish at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, posting a 14-under-par total.
USC captured the Golfweek Red Sky Classic, held September 21–23 in Wolcott, Colorado, finishing at 47 under par to win the 20-team event.
The Trojans followed with a third-place finish at the Stanford Intercollegiate at seven under.
At the East Lake Cup, USC finished first in stroke play at eight under par before splitting its two match play contests.
USC’s First-Place Finishes:
- Golfweek Red Sky Classic (September 21–23): 47 under par
- East Lake Cup stroke play (October 26): 8 under par
Source: USC Clippd Results
Duke Closes Fall With Consecutive Tournament Victories
Duke finished the fall ranked No. 4 nationally after recording consecutive tournament championships in October.
The Blue Devils opened their season with a third-place finish at the Folds of Honor Collegiate before tying for second at the Windy City Collegiate Classic.
Duke captured the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, held October 16–18 at UNC Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, finishing at 11 under par.
The Blue Devils followed with another victory at the Landfall Tradition, held October 23–25 at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Duke finished at five over par to win the 18-team event.
The Blue Devils completed the fall with a 46-3-1 record, 75.28 average weighted points and top-three finishes in all four tournaments.
Duke’s Fall Victories:
- Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational (October 16–18): 11 under par
- Landfall Tradition (October 23–25): 5 over par
Source: Duke Clippd Results
Stanford Captures Two October Championships
Stanford finished the fall ranked No. 5 nationally with two tournament victories.
The Cardinal won the Windy City Collegiate Classic, held October 5–6 at Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe, Illinois, finishing at four over par.
Stanford followed with another championship at the Stanford Intercollegiate, held October 16–18 at Stanford Golf Course.
The Cardinal finished at 28 under par to win the 17-team tournament, ahead of Virginia at nine under and USC at seven under.
Stanford closed the fall with a third-place finish at the Nanea Invitational at 24 under par.
The Cardinal compiled a 35-7-0 record and 73.44 average weighted points.
Stanford remains among the programs to watch entering the spring. Golfweek noted that the Cardinal has finished first in the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championship in six consecutive seasons and won three national titles during that period.
Although Stanford finished sixth in the six-team Jackson T. Stephens Cup field earlier in the fall, the Cardinal responded with two tournament victories and a third-place finish at Nanea.
Meja Ortengren also strengthened Stanford’s individual lineup with two victories and no finish worse than a tie for fourth during the fall.
Stanford’s Fall Victories:
- Windy City Collegiate Classic (October 5–6): 4 over par
- Stanford Intercollegiate (October 16–18): 28 under par
Sources: Stanford Clippd Results | Golfweek Fall Review
Iowa State and Kansas Join Multiple Tournament Winners
No. 20 Iowa State: Badger Invitational and Schooner Fall Classic
Iowa State won two tournaments during September, beginning with the Badger Invitational, held September 13–15.
The Cyclones finished at seven under par to take first place in the 16-team field.
Iowa State followed with another championship at the Schooner Fall Classic, held September 19–21 at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Cyclones posted a 30-under-par total to capture the 16-team event.
Iowa State later finished 10th at the Windy City Collegiate Classic and eighth at the Stanford Intercollegiate.
The Cyclones completed the fall with a 41-16-0 record and 48.11 average weighted points.
Iowa State’s Fall Victories:
- Badger Invitational (September 13–15): 7 under par
- Schooner Fall Classic (September 19–21): 30 under par
Source: Iowa State Clippd Results
No. 24 Kansas: Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational and Clash at Boulder Creek
Kansas recorded two fall tournament victories, beginning with the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational, held October 5–6.
The Jayhawks finished at six over par to win the 13-team tournament.
Kansas closed its fall schedule with another victory at The Clash at Boulder Creek, held October 25–27.
The Jayhawks posted a 47-under-par total to win the 19-team event, one of the lowest winning scores among the nationally ranked programs during the fall.
Kansas also finished fifth at the Folds of Honor Collegiate and fifth at the Stanford Intercollegiate.
The Jayhawks completed the fall with a 60-15-0 record and 45.50 average weighted points.
Kansas’ Fall Victories:
- Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational (October 5–6): 6 over par
- The Clash at Boulder Creek (October 25–27): 47 under par
Source: Kansas Clippd Results
Other Notable Fall Tournament Champions
No. 6 Oregon: Abilene Christian Intercollegiate
Oregon captured the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate, held October 19–21 at Halbert National in Granbury, Texas.
The Ducks finished at 28 under par to win the nine-team event.
Oregon also finished third at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate and third in stroke play at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup.
The Ducks entered the winter break ranked No. 6 with a 28-8-0 record and 69.39 average weighted points.
Source: Oregon Clippd Results
No. 7 Auburn: Haskins Intercollegiate
Auburn recorded its fall championship at the Haskins Intercollegiate, held October 12–13.
The Tigers finished at 24 under par to take first place in the 13-team field.
Auburn also finished second at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational and fourth at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
The Tigers finished the fall ranked No. 7 with a 36-11-2 record and 69.09 average weighted points.
Source: Auburn Clippd Results
No. 8 South Carolina: Jackson T. Stephens Cup Match Play Champion
South Carolina delivered one of the fall’s notable match play performances at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup.
After finishing second in stroke play at four under par, the Gamecocks faced Wake Forest in the match play championship on September 16 at PGA Frisco.
South Carolina defeated Wake Forest, 3-2, to capture the match play title.
The Gamecocks also recorded runner-up finishes at the Evie Odom Invitational at three under par and the Landfall Tradition at 13 over.
South Carolina finished the fall ranked No. 8 with a 39-7-1 record and 68.92 average weighted points.
Sources: South Carolina Clippd Results | South Carolina Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 9 Arizona State: Nanea Invitational
Arizona State closed the fall with a championship at the Nanea Invitational, held October 26–27 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The Sun Devils finished at 33 under par to take first place in the 11-team field.
Arizona State also finished second at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship and tied for second at the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate.
The Sun Devils entered the winter break ranked No. 9 with a 34-7-2 record and 59.80 average weighted points.
Source: Arizona State Clippd Results
No. 12 Texas A&M: The Fin
Texas A&M captured The Fin, held October 19–21 at Freestone Lake and Golf Club in Fairfield, Texas.
The Aggies finished at five over par to win the nine-team event.
Texas A&M also finished second at the Folds of Honor Collegiate and tied for third at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic.
The Aggies completed the fall with a 39-7-1 record and 56.21 average weighted points.
Sources: Texas A&M Clippd Results | Texas A&M Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 13 Tennessee: Mercedes Benz Intercollegiate
Tennessee earned its fall championship at the Mercedes Benz Intercollegiate, held October 4–6 at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville.
The Lady Vols finished at 21 under par to win the 15-team tournament.
Tennessee also finished second at the Cougar Classic and tied for second at the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate.
The Lady Vols finished with a 42-5-1 record and 55.79 average weighted points.
Sources: Tennessee Clippd Results | Tennessee Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 14 Texas: St Andrews Links Collegiate
Texas finished first in the stroke play portion of the St Andrews Links Collegiate, held October 12–13 in Scotland.
The Longhorns posted a 15-over-par total to finish first in the four-team field.
Texas also defeated the University of St Andrews, 5-1, in match play on October 14.
Earlier in the fall, Texas defeated Oregon, 4-1, in match play at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup after finishing fourth in stroke play.
The Longhorns entered the winter break ranked No. 14 with 54.96 average weighted points.
Sources: Texas Clippd Results | Texas Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 15 Miami: Boilermaker Classic
Miami opened the fall with a victory at the Boilermaker Classic, held August 31–September 1 at Kampen-Cosler Golf Course in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The Hurricanes finished at 10 under par to take first place.
Miami followed with a fifth-place finish at the Cougar Classic before placing second at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic at 33 under.
The Hurricanes completed the fall with a 52-11-0 record and 54.87 average weighted points.
Sophomore Scarlett Schremmer was another important contributor to Miami’s fall. According to Golfweek, the transfer recorded two individual victories, including a performance at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic that produced the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
Golfweek also reported that Schremmer was scheduled to make her LPGA debut at The ANNIKA in Florida during November.
Sources: Miami Clippd Results | Miami Women’s Golf Schedule | Golfweek Fall Review
No. 16 Florida: Cougar Classic
Florida captured the Cougar Classic, held September 7–8 at Yeamans Hall Club in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Gators finished at 16 under par to win the 18-team tournament.
Florida followed with a runner-up finish at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship.
The Gators finished fourth at The Ally and sixth at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, completing the fall with a 48-9-2 record and 54.52 average weighted points.
Sources: Florida Clippd Results | Florida Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 17 Florida State: Folds of Honor Collegiate
Florida State opened the fall by winning the Folds of Honor Collegiate, held September 7–9 at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan.
The Seminoles finished at three under par to take first place in the 12-team field.
Florida State also finished third at the Schooner Fall Classic and fourth at the Landfall Tradition.
The Seminoles entered the winter break ranked No. 17 with a 38-9-0 record and 53.82 average weighted points.
Sources: Florida State Clippd Results | Florida State Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 18 Mississippi State: Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship
Mississippi State earned its fall championship at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship, held September 18–20.
The Bulldogs finished at two under par to win the 15-team event.
Mississippi State also recorded third-place finishes at the Boilermaker Classic, The Ally and The Fin.
The Bulldogs concluded the fall with a 47-6-0 record, four top-three finishes and 50.24 average weighted points.
Sources: Mississippi State Clippd Results | Mississippi State Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 19 Arkansas: East Lake Cup Match Play Champion
Arkansas closed its fall season with a championship at the East Lake Cup, held October 26–28.
The Razorbacks finished second in the stroke play portion at six under par, advancing into match play.
Arkansas then recorded two match play victories, winning its first contest, 4-1, before securing another victory, 3-1-1, to capture the championship.
Earlier in the fall, Arkansas finished second at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at 12 over par and third at the Haskins Intercollegiate at seven over.
The Razorbacks also finished fourth at the Cougar Classic and fifth at The Fin.
Arkansas concluded the fall ranked No. 19 with a 38-11-1 record and 48.60 average weighted points.
Source: Arkansas Clippd Results
No. 21 Virginia Tech: Nittany Lion Invitational
Virginia Tech opened the fall with a championship at the Nittany Lion Invitational, held September 7–8.
The Hokies finished at 20 under par to win the 18-team tournament.
Virginia Tech followed with a fourth-place finish at the Schooner Fall Classic at 10 under and a seventh-place finish at The Ally.
The Hokies closed the fall with consecutive runner-up performances, finishing second at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational at one over par and second at the Keswick Cup at one under.
Virginia Tech finished the fall with a 57-11-0 record, three top-three finishes and 47.93 average weighted points.
Source: Virginia Tech Clippd Results
No. 22 Kentucky: Bettie Lou Evans Invitational
Kentucky earned its fall championship at the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational, held September 21–22.
The Wildcats finished at 25 under par to win the 13-team tournament.
Kentucky also finished fourth at The Ally at five over par and sixth at the Landfall Tradition at 28 over.
The Wildcats completed the fall with a 39-15-1 record and 46.70 average weighted points.
Source: Kentucky Clippd Results
No. 23 Purdue: Fighting Irish Classic
Purdue captured its fall championship at the Fighting Irish Classic, held September 26–27.
The Boilermakers finished at one under par to win the 14-team tournament.
Purdue also finished fourth at the Boilermaker Classic, fifth at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship and fifth at the Windy City Collegiate Classic.
The Boilermakers concluded the fall with a 45-15-1 record and 46.28 average weighted points.
Source: Purdue Clippd Results
No. 25 Oklahoma State: The Ally
Oklahoma State captured its fall championship at The Ally, held October 5–7.
The Cowgirls finished at five under par to take first place in the 17-team field.
The event was shortened to 36 holes after an illness affected players and coaches from numerous participating programs.
According to Golfweek, at least 13 of the 17 teams reported illness symptoms, including gastrointestinal issues. Concerns about the health of participants and the possibility of further illness contributed to the decision to cancel the final round.
With the tournament shortened, the standings after two rounds became final. Oklahoma State secured the championship at five under par, five strokes ahead of Ole Miss.
Oklahoma State followed with a runner-up finish at The Fin at 16 over par.
At the East Lake Cup, the Cowgirls finished fourth in stroke play before splitting their match play contests, recording a 3-2 victory and a 3-1-1 defeat.
Oklahoma State completed the fall with a 36-18-0 record and 45.47 average weighted points.
Sources: Oklahoma State Clippd Results | Golfweek’s Report on The Ally
Strong Fall Performances Without Tournament Championships
No. 10 Ole Miss
Ole Miss recorded three runner-up finishes during the fall, including the Boilermaker Classic at five under par, The Ally at even par and the Illini Women’s Invitational at Medinah at 23 under.
The Rebels also finished seventh at the Cougar Classic.
Ole Miss completed the fall with a 53-9-0 record and 57.07 average weighted points.
Sources: Ole Miss Clippd Results | Ole Miss Women’s Golf Schedule
No. 11 UCLA
UCLA finished second at the Nanea Invitational at 26 under par and third at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational at 27 over.
The Bruins also competed at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate and Stanford Intercollegiate, finishing sixth in both events.
UCLA entered the winter break with a 31-13-2 record and 56.41 average weighted points.
Sources: UCLA Clippd Results | UCLA Women’s Golf Schedule
Individual Standouts and Early ANNIKA Award Contenders
Several players distinguished themselves through multiple tournament victories during the opening months of the 2026-27 season.
According to Golfweek’s November 10 report, six players recorded two individual victories during the fall:
- Meja Ortengren, Stanford: Two victories, with no finish worse than tied for fourth.
- Farah O’Keefe, Texas: The reigning ANNIKA Award winner recorded two fall victories.
- Maria Jose Marin, Arkansas: Two individual championships.
- Anna Davis, Auburn: Two tournament victories.
- Jaclyn LaHa, Virginia: Two individual titles while contributing to Virginia’s No. 1 team ranking.
- Valentine Delon, Virginia Tech: Two individual victories.
Ortengren’s combination of tournament victories and consistent high finishes made her a particularly notable performer entering the winter break.
O’Keefe, Marin, Davis, LaHa and Delon also established themselves among the leading early candidates for the ANNIKA Award, which recognizes the nation’s outstanding Division I women’s collegiate golfer.
Miami’s Scarlett Schremmer joined the group of multiple tournament winners, recording two individual victories following her transfer to the Hurricanes.
With the spring season still ahead, these performances provide an early picture of the individual competition without determining the eventual award recipient.
Source: Golfweek: Women’s College Golf Fall 2026 Highlights
Looking Ahead to Spring 2027
The fall 2026 season highlighted the depth of competition across NCAA Division I women’s golf.
Virginia’s two victories and consistent performances secured the nation’s No. 1 ranking, but Wake Forest, Southern California, Duke and Stanford remain among the leading contenders.
Duke and Stanford each closed the fall with multiple tournament championships, while Iowa State and Kansas demonstrated that programs outside the top 10 can also produce championship performances.
South Carolina and Arkansas added notable match play titles, while Oregon, Auburn, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Miami, Florida, Florida State, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Purdue and Oklahoma State each recorded tournament victories.
The individual competition also remains closely contested. Ortengren, O’Keefe, Marin, Davis, LaHa and Delon enter the winter break with multiple tournament victories, while Schremmer’s performances have added another notable name to the national conversation.
With conference championships, NCAA regional competition and the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship ahead, the spring season will provide another opportunity for these programs and players to build on their fall results.
As the nation’s top teams return to competition, the race for the 2027 national championship remains open.
Additional Coverage: CGN+ | Scoreboard Powered by Clippd | Golfweek Fall 2026 Women’s Golf Review
