Ticket Punched: Emma Bunch Advances to NCAA Women’s Golf Championship

STANFORD, Calif. – After three rounds at Stanford Golf Course, Emma Bunch stands alone. Over the three day NCAA Stanford Regional, Bunch shot six-under to serve as the top individual from a non-qualifying team to earn her spot at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.

 
The championship will begin on May 22 in Carlsbad, Calif., where she will be joined by 30 teams and five fellow individuals. With her qualification, she becomes the first Aggie since Alena Sharp (2002) to represent the program at the national championship.

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In the opening round on Monday, Bunch carded a 64 (-7) to mark the lowest 18-hole score of her career and finish the first day four strokes clear of the field. Bunch followed the incredible first round with a bogey-free round of 69 (-2) that included several impressive par saves. This left Bunch with a one-stroke lead entering the final day of competition.

Bunch then closed out the tournament with a 74 (+2) to ultimately end the week in a tie for sixth, securing her spot as the lone automatic individual qualifier in the field. With players from Stanford, Pepperdine, Oregon State, Arizona State and Missouri advancing with their teams, Bunch bested the rest of the field by five strokes as CSU Fullerton’s Davina Xanh was the closest finisher among the remaining individuals.

With this achievement, Bunch becomes just the third Aggie ever to qualify for the NCAA Championship as an individual, joining Alena Sharp (2002) and Jane Egan (1990). As a team, NM State also qualified for the NCAA Championship in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1991, 1989, 1988.
 
At the championship, Bunch will also be joined by fellow individuals Kirstin Angosta (TCU), Sheridan Clancy (Indiana), Thanana Kotchasanmanee (Princeton), Isabella McCauley (Minnesota) and Johanna Sjursen (ULM).
 
Qualifying Teams (30)
Arkansas
Arizona State
Auburn
Baylor
Duke
Eastern Michigan
Florida
Florida State
Houston
Iowa State
Kentucky
LSU
Michigan State
Missouri
Northwestern
North Carolina
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Ole Miss
Oregon State
Pepperdine
SMU
Stanford
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
USC
Virginia
Wake Forest
 
For complete coverage of NM State Women’s Golf, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWGolf), Instagram (@NMStateWGolf) and Facebook (NM State Women’s Golf). You can also follow along with Aggie Women’s Golf via NMStateSports.com.