Tartans Finish National Runner-Up at 2026 Division III NCAA Championship

(PALM DESERT, Calif.) – For the second straight season, the Carnegie Mellon University women's golf team concluded an outstanding year with a national runner-up finish at the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships, held at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. The Tartans recorded a final-round score of 290 (+2) to finish the 72-hole championship with a program-record total of 1,161 (291-295-285-290).

Inside the Championships:
NCAA Finish: 2nd of 34 Teams
NCAA Team Champion: Emory (+2)
NCAA Individual Medalist: Carter Sichol, Carleton (-5)
Location: Desert Willow Golf Club | Palm Desert, Calif. – Firecliff and Mount View
Par/Yardage: 72/5,820 and 72/5,873

How it Happened:

• Sophomore Emma Wong and freshman Alyssa Lim tied for second individually, each finishing at four-under par 284 for the tournament, as they finished one-stroke off the individual medalist.
• Wong posted rounds of 71, 72, 69, and 72.
• Lim closed with her best round of the championship, a three-under 69, after opening rounds of 70, 73, and 72.
• Sophomore Cecilia Jia also recorded her best round on Friday, shooting even-par 72 to finish at 297 (74-74-77-72).
• Junior Nikita Jadhav carded a 77 in the final round and finished at 298 (76-76-69-77).
• Junior Samantha Wang closed the championship with a 310 (77-80-75-78).

Notes:

• The Tartans have qualified for seven NCAA Championships in the program's 12-year history and have finished in the top five in all seven appearances:
  • 2018 – 5th
  • 2021 – 2nd
  • 2022 – 4th
  • 2023 – 4th
  • 2024 – 1st
  • 2025 – 2nd
  • 2026 – 2nd
• Carnegie Mellon's 72-hole total of 1,161 (+9) marks the lowest four-round score in program history.
• Wong and Lim's runner-up finishes tie the best individual finish in program history at the championship event. Jia placed second in 2025, while Alexis Sudjianto earned runner-up honors in 2021.
• Wong and Lim also set a new school record for the lowest four-round individual score at four-under par 284.
• Jia's 297 (+9) ranks seventh in program history for a four-round total, while Jadhav's 298 (+10) ranks eighth.