Reddies, Nelson, and Jones Lead the Way After One Round at Central Regional

SAINT JOSEPH, Mo. – The 2026 NCAA Central Regional kicked off on Monday from the Saint Joseph Country Club as 18 of the top women's golf teams in the region started the search for a regional championship and an automatic berth to the National Championship.

Henderson State fired a +21 and sits in a tie for first place with Rogers State after the opening 18 holes. Henderson posted the best score among the four GAC schools in the opening round of the tournament. Southwestern Oklahoma State is tied for 10th at +29, with Arkansas Tech (+34) and Harding (+44) sitting in 16th and 18th places, respectively.

Senior Lily Nelson led the way for the Reddies on day one, turning in a two-over par 74. The first team All-GAC selection was steady all day, with a ten-hole stretch of under-par golf, highlighted by a birdie at the par-five 10th hole. Nelson sits in a tie for first-place individually.

Nelson was joined in the lead by Lora Jones. The freshman fired a season-best two-over par 74 on Monday, with one birdie and three bogeys on the day. Jones also scored a birdie on the 10th hole in the opening round and ended her round with a stretch of five consecutive pars to turn in an even-par 36 on the back nine.

Paulina Narvaez survived a difficult stretch of holes on the back nine at SJCC and turned in a six-over 78. The senior led HSU on the day with two birdies, one at the par-five sixth hole, and the other at the par-four 12th. Narvaez is tied for 24th in the individual standings.

Hailey Coleman navigated her way through the course after putting up two crooked numbers, settling down on the back nine to finish with an 11-over 83. The junior's round was marked by a birdie at the par-five sixth hole, joining Narvaez with a low score on one of the course's six par fives.

Isabella Ferreira stopped the bleeding on her front nine with a birdie on the par-three ninth hole en route to scoring a 13-over 85. The graduate student overcame three holes of double bogey or worse on the front nine and scored no worse than bogey on any of the final nine holes of the round.

HSU looks to keep their lead at the second round of the Region Championship on Tuesday, May 5th. The Reddies will start their tee times at 12:10 p.m and will be paired with players from Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney.

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Players Mentioned

Paulina Narvaez: Senior

Lily Nelson: 5' 8"; Senior

Hailey Coleman: Senior

Isabella Ferreira: 5' 3"; Graduate Student

Lora Jones: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Paulina Narvaez
: Senior

Lily Nelson
: 5' 8"; Senior

Hailey Coleman
: Senior

Isabella Ferreira
: 5' 3"; Graduate Student

Lora Jones
: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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