Spartans Storm Back and Win Playoff at Regionals to Advance to NCAA Championships

Wednesday, May 13

Finley Golf Club (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

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Michigan State University

NCAA Regionals

Michigan State's women's golf team at the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional

Spartans Storm Back and Win Playoff at Regionals to Advance to NCAA Championships

5/13/2026 5:45:00 PM | Women's Golf

NCAA Chapel Hill Regional Results Final Results

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's women's golf team stormed back from a tie for seventh place to force a three-team playoff and won that to finish among the top-five teams at the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional and earned a trip to the NCAA Championships.

The Spartans, who sat in a tie for seventh place entering the final round of play, posted the best team score of the day – a 2-over par 282 – to finish the three-day, 54-hole event at 18-over par 858 (286-290-282), tied for fourth place with Virginia and NC State.

Following the completion of Tuesday's 18 holes, those three teams headed to the 10th hole and began a playoff with all five golfers playing holes 10 through 14, with the lowest combined aggregate scores advancing two teams to the NCAA Championships.

Michigan State's combined score of 23 was tied with Virginia for the lowest, advancing both teams to the Championship, with NC State posting a score of 26. Senior Paula Balanzategui parred the par-4, 10th hole, junior Ana Sofia Murcia had a bogey on the par-5, 11th hole, senior Taylore Kehoe birdied the par-5, 12th hole, freshman Lucia Valderrama had a bogey on the par-4, 13th hole and classmate Sarisa Pojanalai had a double bogey on the par-3 14th hole.

"We always have high expectations for our program and our players. Qualifying for the NCAA Championships is one of them," MSU Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. "We knew that we had work to do, but we also knew that it was within reach. It was a challenge, especially going to a playoff, but our Spartans stayed strong and it's just a thrill to make it back to the NCAA Championship for the 6th year in a row. This team has a lot of grit and we showed it today."

Texas won the regional with a score of 5-under par 835 (279-271-285), followed by North Carolina in second (6-over par 846), Oklahoma State in third (8-over par 848) and Michigan State and Virginia tied for fifth place.

"I'm so proud of the way we fought back into the top-five," Kehoe said. "Clinching one of the last spots in a 3-for-2 playoff was definitely stressful, but I know we were ready for the moment. Now it's time to get back to work and prepare for nationals."

The Spartans were led to their comeback by Kehoe along with a pair of first-year players in Valderrama and Pojanalai.

Kehoe fired a 3-under par 207 to finish in fourth place at 3-under par 207 (70-70-67). Her final round 3-under par 67 is tied for the lowest round by an MSU golfer in NCAA Regional action and her 54-hole score of 207 is the lowest ever by a Spartan.

Valderrama had the second-best score of the day for the Spartans, shooting an even-par 70. She finished in a tie for 16th place at 4-over par 214 (70-74-70). Her classmate Pojanalai was two shots back, tying for 21st place at 6-over par 216 (74-71-71). She posted back-to-back rounds of 1-over par 71 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Junior Ana Sofia Murcia tied for 37th place at 11-over par 221 (72-75-74), closing with a 4-over par 74 on Wednesday. Senior Paula Balanzategui, who subbed into the lineup after the first round, shot a 9-over par 79 on Wednesday to finish at 17-over par 157.

Michigan State will be one of 30 teams total from six regionals advancing to compete in the NCAA Championships, which will be played from May 22-27 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

Michigan State NCAA Regional Notes

Michigan State will be making its 18th all-time appearance at the NCAA Championships, including 16 trips under head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. MSU has been represented in each of the last six NCAA Championships.
The Spartans have qualified as a team in four-straight years and five times in the last six.
MSU's team score of 858 was the best 54-hole score in an NCAA Regional in program history, two strokes ahead of the team's 860 in the 2024 NCAA East Lansing Regional.
Michigan State's third-round score of 2-over par 282 is tied for the best team round in an NCAA Regional, sharing the mark with the 282 posted in the second round of last year's NCAA Norman Regional in Oklahoma.
This marked MSU's 26th all-time appearance in an NCAA Regional.
Taylor Kehoe shot a 3-under 207 to finish in fourth place … Her score of 207 is the best 54-hole score by a Spartan in an NCAA Regional and her third-round score of 3-under par 67 is tied for the lowest round by an MSU golfer in an NCAA Regional.