TULSA, Oklahoma – Arkansas Tech, the top-ranked school in the latest NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Central Region rankings, grabbed a five-shot lead in the team portion of the 2026 Great American Conference Championships from Stone Creek Course at Page Belcher Golf Course. In the individual competition, Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Gracie Doke carded a 2-under par 69 to lead by two shots.
Doke matched the lowest first-round score in tournament history. Her 2-under 69 ranks in a tie for third-best score, in any GAC Championship round. Her round featured five birdies against three bogeys. As a team, the Rangers finished the day in second place with a score of 22-over 306. The score represents the lowest round at the GAC Championships in program history, eight better than the previous mark. Amanda Lane ended the round in a tie for 12th following a 6-over 77.
Tech placed three inside the top 10 and shot 17-over 301 as a unit. GAC Player of the Year Ellen Spigner led the Golden Suns with an even-par round. She made four birdies. Averi Mickelson and Jaylee Castro shot matching 4-over 75s. Mickelson collected birdies on her first and last holes. Castro made her lone birdie of the round on the par-3 15th hole.
GAC Freshman of the Year Maria Velilla helped Southwestern Oklahoma State to third place standing, six shots back of Tech. She closed the first round in third place after a 1-over 72. After 15 pars and two bogeys, she made her lone birdie of the round on the par-4 18th hole. First-Team All-GAC selection and 2025 GAC champion Freya Sala added a 6-over 77 to share 12th.
Henderson State, the winner of the last five GAC Championships, shot a 24-over round to sit in fourth. Lily Nelson, a First-Team All-GAC honoree, joined the four-way tie for sixth following a 4-over round. Hailey Coleman indeed a 6-over 77 while Isabella Ferreira and Paulina Narvaez produced 7-over rounds.
Oklahoma Baptist saw three players - Morgan Simmons, Sam Lehr and Emilee Pierce - end Monday inside the top 15. Simmons made four birdies as part of a 3-over 74 that placed her in a tie for fourth. A 5-over 76 left Lehr in a tie for 10th while Pierce joined the collection at 6-over.
Two from Arkansas-Monticello - Renata Abad and Tori Milton - finished the first round inside the top 10 as the Blossoms tied Southern Arkansas for sixth. Abad shot 3-over 74 and Milton produced a 4-over 75. SAU’s low round came courtesy Isabel Marquez. She shot a 5-over 76 to tie Lehr for 10th. Emma Hester joined the seven-way tie for 12th.
Harding claimed eighth, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Lady Bisons’ Vivian Volion and the Savage Storm’s Carley Button rounded out the group at 6-over 77. Southern Nazarene and East Central took 10th and 11th, respectively.
Tuesday’s second round tees off at 8 a.m. with golfers from Southern Nazarene and East Central opening play.