TICKET PUNCHED! Ferris State Women's Golf Earns Berth Into NCAA D2 Championship For Fifth-Straight Year
Big Rapids, Mich. - For the fifth consecutive year, the Ferris State University women's golf team has earned a berth into the 2026 NCAA Division II East Regional Championships as the national organization unveiled its postseason qualifiers on Sunday (April 26) evening as selected by the national committee.
The Bulldogs are one of five squads from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) to secure a postseason berth for the East Regional, which will take place May 4-6 at the Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio. The regional championships will be hosted by the University of Findlay.
Along with Ferris State, the qualifiers also included Grand Valley State, Davenport, Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State from the GLIAC.
This year's berth marks the Bulldogs' fifth-straight berth. Four years ago, the Bulldogs placed 11th at the East Regional Championships in their first team trip to the postseason since 2014 when FSU finished fourth overall in the regional championships. The Bulldogs previously made 13 consecutive NCAA appearances from 2002 to 2014. In 2023, Ferris State placed seventh overall in the East Regional in Springfield, Ill., before coming away with another seventh-place tying finish in 2024 in Carmel, Ind.
A year ago, in 2025, Ferris State placed third in regional action at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale and secured its first trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships in 16 years, coming away with a 17th place overall finish in Boulder City, Nev.
A total of 18 teams were selected from the East Region from a total of six different conferences in addition to six individual competitors from non-advancing schools.
All participants will compete through the 54 holes of competition with the top four teams from the East Region along with the top two individuals not on an advancing team moving on to the national championships set for May 12-16 at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Overall, the Bulldogs have twice captured a regional championship in 2003-04 and 2006-07 while attaining runner-up honors four times (2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09).
Prior to earning an at-large bid the last two years, Ferris State reached the NCAA Tourney three years ago as the GLIAC's automatic qualifier after winning the league championship for the first time since 2007 during the 2023 spring season in Augusta, Mich. This year, the Bulldogs claimed the GLIAC Championship and the league's automatic berth once again this past week in Augusta, Mich.
Below is a complete list of the East Regional qualifiers:
ast Regional
Findlay Country Club
Findlay, Ohio
Host: University of Findlay
Teams:
1. Findlay
2. Grand Valley State
3. UIndy
4. Missouri-St. Louis
5. Ferris State
6. Ashland
7. Tiffin
8. Gannon
9. Lewis
10. McKendree
11. Maryville (Missouri)
12. Davenport
13. Charleston (West Virginia)
14. Wayne State (Michigan)
15. Northwood
16. Saginaw Valley State
17. West Chester
18. Adelphi
Individuals:
1. Sydney Hugo, Walsh
2. Elaine Grant, Illinois Springfield
3. AJ Powell, Wisconsin-Parkside
4. Grace Stafford, Drury
5. Lily Zicarelli, Wisconsin-Parkside
6. Lily Vardaman, Quincy