YPSILANTI, MI – The defending champion UBC Thunderbirds are in striking distance sitting in third spot on the team leaderboard after the conclusion of the weather delayed opening round of the 2026 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, Wednesday at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Mi. The T-Birds sit four shots off the pace at (+17) in a two-way tie for fourth spot alongside Southeastern (Fla.) and behind top-seed Dalton State (Ga.) atop the leaderboard at (+13) two shots clear of Truett McConnell (Ga.) (+15) in second spot through 18 holes.
First-year T-Bird Katherine Hao put the tournament on notice on Tuesday, sneaking in an impressive first round (E, 72) before play was halted on day one due to wind and rain. Hao's score proved to set the standard through the resumption and conclusion of round one on Wednesday and she enjoys the individual lead as the only player at par in the now 54-hole championship. Looking up the leaderboard at Hao is a logjam of five players sitting two shots back (+2, 74) including Dalton State's Jia Kataria and Truett McConnell's Brianna Basset helping power their schools to first and second place respectively.
The T-Birds entered the week as the No. 6 ranked team and a young but talented group featuring, Jessica Ng, Katherine Hao, Keira Hou, Sienna Harder and Grace Yao. Three of the five UBC competitors were able to complete their opening round on Tuesday before play was halted including the aforementioned Hao (E, 72). Hao enjoyed a steady start to the tournament staying even through her first six holes before recording a birdie on the seventh. It was also a fairly balanced back nine for the native of Burnaby B.C. that included two more birdies on holes 10 and 13. The lone blemishes on the day included a bogey on the ninth hole and a double bogey to finish things off on 18.
Not too far behind Hao are fellow T-Birds Keira Hou (+3, 75) amongst a glut of 15 players tied for seventh-place. Hou was consistent in her opening round, parring 13 of 18 holes, notching a birdie on the second hole but also dealing with four bogies. Sienna Harder and Jessica Ng each finished with a (+7, 79) to sit tied in 57
th spot. Meanwhile Grace Ho completed round one at (+9, 81) amongst a group in 82
nd place.
The T-Birds will be right back at it early Thursday morning for round two with their tee times scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. ET. (4:00 a.m. and 4:40 a.m. PT.)
Following 36 holes of competition on Thursday late afternoon, the field will be reduced to the top 15 teams, plus ties, for the final round of play on Friday.
Leaderboard
You can catch the rest of the championship on the
UEN Live Stream: