Nelson Qualifies for Nationals, Reddie Comeback Falls Short

SAINT JOSEPH, Mo. – The 2025-26 golf season came to an end for Henderson State on Wednesday, as the team completed its third and final round of the Central Region Championship. HSU came up just three strokes short of qualifying for next week's national championship.

The Reddies finished 6th of 18 schools after troubles on day two, but fought back valiantly in Wednesday's third round, shooting their tournament-best 16-over par, the second-best team score turned in during the entire championship. With the early start on Wednesday, HSU had to wait on the 12 teams that started after them to await its postseason fate.

Lily Nelson fired her first under-par round of the championship, shooting a two-under par 70. Nelson's round was highlighted by five birdies to counteract a bogey and a double bogey. The senior jumped nine spots on the individual leaderboard to finish in third place; as a top-two finisher for a non-qualifying team, she also earned the right to play in next week's NCAA Championship in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Paulina Narvaez saved her best round for last, shooting her tournament-best 75 to rocket 24 places up the leaderboard and finishing in a tie for 37th place. The senior also had four birdies in her best effort of the championship and shot just one-over par on the final nine holes.

Hailey Coleman also shot a tournament-best round on Wednesday. The junior turned in a card of seven-over par 79, featuring a birdie on the par-three seventh hole. Coleman finished in a tie for 70th place after climbing 11 spots on the final day of competition.

Isabella Ferreira was the fourth Reddie to improve on her scores from the opening two rounds. The graduate student fired an 80, five strokes better than her scores on Monday and Tuesday. Ferreira birdied the par-four first hole and the par-four 14th hole in Wednesday's third round, finishing in a tie for 77th place.

Lora Jones was the lone Henderson player to not shoot her best score of the tournament, turning in an 85. Jones, who was tied for the individual lead after day one, struggled out of the gate before birdieing the fifth hole, her lone birdie of the day. Jones finished in a tie for 40th place.

Print Friendly Version

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

sponsor