By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – It was a historic day for both the individual and team champion at the 2026 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Championships, which concluded with the third and final round on Wednesday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.
 
Lauren Lee of Seattle Pacific University gave the Falcons their first-ever women’s individual medalist in just the program’s second year of existence. Lee finished with a three-round total of 225 (73-75-77), winning the title by a single stroke ahead of runner-up Izzy Ferguson from Simon Fraser on the par-72, 5,802-yard course.
 
Ferguson’s Red Leafs cruised to their fourth-consecutive GNAC women’s team title, posting a three-round score of 913 (303-302-308) at the first-ever 54-hole version of the conference tournament. It was SFU’s seventh women’s golf GNAC trophy, tying it with Western Washington for most among all GNAC schools.
 
After two straight days with near-perfect weather and playing conditions, the players were dealt a different hand for Wednesday’s final round. Temperatures hovered in the low 40s and steady rain began right around the 7:30 a.m. (Pacific) tee-off, persisting throughout the entirety of the round. Players also dealt with a noticeable, steady wind in the neighborhood of 15 miles per hour to go along with the relentless, piercing raindrops.
 
Ferguson’s 1-over-par 73 was the top round of the day by four strokes, as she moved her name six spots up the leaderboard from Tuesday. Ferguson countered four bogeys with three birdies throughout the highly-challenging playing conditions, starting her day with an even-par 37 across the back-nine. Ferguson put together a three-round score of 226 (77-76-73), saving her best round for last. The SFU senior made it three-career top-five finishes at the conference championships, after taking fourth as a freshman in 2023 and placing fifth at last year’s event.
 
SPU’s Lee posted a 5-over-par 77 which was just enough to hold off the surging Ferguson for the individual title. After starting the day in second place, Lee used a pair of birdies across her first eight holes and a 1-under-par 36 on the back-nine to climb to the top of the leaderboard. She was the steady leader through the second half of the round, and although she temporarily fell into a tie for first with SFU’s Dana Smith, she finished strong with a par and a bogey on the most soggy holes of the day to close out the victory.
 
It was the second straight tournament win for Lee, who emerged victorious her last time out at the Chico State Wildcat Invitational on April 13-14 in California. In the 15-year history of the GNAC Women’s Golf Championships, she became the 15th different woman to emerge as the individual medalist.
 
All five players for Simon Fraser finished in the top-11 among the field of 29 competitors, helping lead SFU to a 25-stroke victory margin over the runner-up Falcons. Smith, who won the individual title as a freshman in 2024 before tying for third place last year, matched that feat with a third-place finish on Wednesday. Smith posted a three-round score of 227 (76-73-78) across the three days of play.
 
The lone Red Leaf to have been part of all four of the team’s recent championship titles, reigning medalist Meera Minhas finished the event tied for fourth place with a three-round score of 228 (73-78-77). Minhas matched SPU’s Lee for the second-best score on the damp Wednesday, posting a 5-over-par 77 her final time through the course. Cadence Ko wrapped up the event in 10th place with a score of 234 (77-77-80), and Anaya Bhandal was right behind in 11th place at 235 (78-76-81).
 
The Falcons held their spot from Tuesday’s second round on the leaderboard, posting a runner-up team finish after beginning competition in women’s golf in the fall of 2024. Zoe Garcia had a stellar showing throughout the event, tying for fourth place with a three-round total of 228 (76-73-79). She and teammate Natalie Eklund each had the best round on Tuesday with 1-over-par 73s, while Eklund followed in a tie for 16th place with a score of 242 (83-73-86).
 
Western Washington finished third in the team standings with a three-round score of 944 (309-304-331). WWU’s Lauren Lee played in the final group on Wednesday, finishing the tournament in a tie for sixth place with a score of 229 (72-74-83). It was the third consecutive top-10 finish for Lee, who placed ninth as a sophomore in 2024 and tied for third place a season ago. Freshman Carly Ikei was also a top-10 finisher in her GNAC Championships debut, placing ninth with a three-round total of 233 (78-74-81). Ikei’s memorable second-round 74 featured the lone eagle of the entire tournament.
 
Checking in just one stroke behind the Vikings was Montana State Billings, which shot a 945 (309-309-327) for fourth place. The Yellowjackets were led by eighth-place finisher Ella Tannenberger, who totaled a three-round score of 232 (77-76-79). Tannenberger enjoyed a red-hot stretch during Wednesday’s final round, as she made three birdies in the span of four holes to close out the back-nine with a 1-under-par 36. MSUB’s Orraya Tipasathien was 12th with a 237 (77-76-84) and newcomer Kyleigh McGowan finished 13th at 238 (76-81-81).
 
Saint Martin’s wrapped up the tournament in fifth place with a three-round total of 963 (309-325-329). Senior Kelsie Inouye led the way for the Saints, tying for sixth place in her fourth and final GNAC Championships tournament. Inouye shot a tournament-leading 2-under-par 70 in the opening round, following with a 79 Tuesday and an 80 Wednesday for a three-round score of 229. Inouye finished in the top-10 in all four of her career appearances at the CDA Resort Course, taking second as a freshman in 2023, 10th in 2024 and eighth last year.
 
Caroline Caven led the way for Northwest Nazarene, which checked in sixth on the leaderboard with a three-round score of 993 (334-327-332). Caven finished 13 spots higher than she did as a freshman in 2025, ending the tournament in 14th place with a three-round score of 240 (76-80-84).
 
The GNAC Golf Championships will return to the Coeur d’Alene Resort, where they have been held in all but the COVID-impacted 2021 event, in 2027.