NSU’s Parker is MIAA medalist, Rogers State claims third, UCO seventh
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Northeastern State’s Jessica Parker captured the 2026 MIAA Women’s Golf Individual Championship on Wednesday, overcoming a challenging final round to secure the title at Mules National Golf Club.
Parker, a junior, finished with a 54-hole total of 222 (73-73-76), holding off a late charge to win by one stroke. She entered the final round with the lead but briefly fell behind before regaining control down the stretch.
Nebraska-Kearney’s Liz Lyons made a late push but faltered over the final four holes, allowing Parker to seal the victory. The win also earned Parker a spot on the MIAA All-Tournament team.
“Jess has never wavered in her confidence to win tournaments after missing the first half of the season,” Northeastern State head coach Scott Varner said. “She kept fighting and has been a great leader all spring.
“We put in a lot of work, and she has led the way with the women, even though this spring has been a struggle. I’m beyond proud of her.”
Parker’s victory marks the second consecutive year a Northeastern State golfer has won the MIAA individual title, following Sam Maceli’s win last season. Baylee Price previously won the event twice for the RiverHawks in 2014 and 2016.
As a team, Northeastern State finished 10th with a total score of 971 (324-331-316). Talya Samir led the rest of the RiverHawks, placing 32nd with a 241 (79-85-77).
Nebraska-Kearney claimed the team championship with a 907, edging Washburn by two strokes in the final standings. Rogers State was third.
Sophomore Milena Andres led the way with a third-place finish for Rogers State. Following a score of 309 (+29) in the final round of action, the Hillcats finished the tournament with a tally of 923 (+83). Nebraska-Kearney finished strong in round three (+18) to claim the team title with a score of 907 (+67). Washburn finished second with a score of 909 (+69).
Andres shined in her second MIAA Tournament, improving from a 41st-place finish last season with a scorecard of 225 (+15) to finish tied for third. Fellow two-time All-MIAA selection, Lauren Anderson, jumped two spots to a tie for ninth with a 76 in round three. The junior collected her first top-10 finish at the conference tournament with a total score of 229 (+19). She finished 30th in both her freshman and sophomore campaigns.
MIAA Freshman of the Year and All-MIAA First Team honoree Lou Fourdan finished tied for 23rd with a three-round total of 235 (+25). Senior Brianna Maddux, a two-time All-MIAA honoree (2026 Second Team, 2025 Third Team), also finished tied for 23rd with the same score of 235 (+25). Earlier today, Maddux received the prestigious MIAA Women’s Golf “A Game” Scholar Athlete award, becoming the first female Hillcat to earn this honor.
The NCAA Division II Regional Rankings will be revealed this Sunday. The Hillcats are currently ranked No. 2 in the last NCAA Division II Central Regional rankings and secured the top spot for the first time since 2022 this season.
The NCAA Central Regional is scheduled for May 4-6 at the St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, Missouri. Four regional tournaments, each consisting of 54 holes, will determine which teams qualify for the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships. Eighteen teams from the East, Central, South and West regions will compete, along with six individuals not associated with those teams will punch their ticket to nationals.
The NCAA Championships are set for May 12-16 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Central Oklahoma finished in seventh place in the postseason tournament.
UCO finished the 54-hole tournament with a 946, posting rounds of 308, 327, and 311 this week. MaKaylee Cowan and Grace Hall led Central Oklahoma this week with both shooting 25-over-par 235s. Estela Castillo was five shots back with a 30-over-par 240. Scarlet Sturch finished with a 243 and Layne Ailshie shot a 244.
Central Oklahoma now moves on to the NCAA Central Region Championships May 4-6 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Bronchos played the Regional Preview at St. Joseph Country Club in October and finished third as a team, with Hall earning a third-place finish individually.