Women's Golf Wins Seventh WHAC Championship in Nine Years

For the seventh time in the last nine years, UNOH women's golf can call themselves Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference champions after edging past Lawrence Tech in the final round of the 2026 WHAC Women's Championship on Tuesday.

Under first year head coach Phil Gunder, the Racers ended day one trailing the defending WHAC Champs, Lawrence Tech, by one stroke after rounds of 327 and 319. They finished with a strong third round on day two shooting 318 as a team, the second lowest round of the tournament (Cleary - 316 Rd 3), besting the Blue Devils by three strokes to catapult into the top spot. UNOH ended with a total of 964 which put them two strokes up on Lawrence Tech who shot 966. Cleary finished third with a 975 followed by Aquinas and Madonna at 1000 and 1048, respectively.

"We talk a lot about grit in our program, and this week was a perfect example of that," Coach Gunder remarked following the tournament, "It wasn't always easy, but they stayed locked in, supported each other, and found a way."

Molly Douglas led the way wire-to-wire earning her second consecutive individual medal and third of the season. She opened with rounds of 75 and 77 to lead by one stroke heading into the final round. That lead was expanded to four after Douglas carded a 76 on day two to wrap up the individual title with a tournament score of 228. She is the seventh Racer in the last ten seasons to top the field at the WHAC Championship.

Kudzai Mandava continued her consistent play finishing in three way tie for third with a score of 237. She carded rounds of 82, 77 and 78 for her sixth top five in eight events this season. Luise Pekoll earned the fourth top ten of her freshman campaign landing in eighth with a 240. After shooting 81 and 84 on the first day, Pekoll ended the event with the best round of her career carding a 3-over 75.

Kayla Watkins and Riley Daeger rounded out the team scoring 259 and 311, respectively. Watkins matched her season low with an 81 in round two sandwiched betwen a pair of 89's. Daeger went 101, 101 and 109.

Gunder continued, "Molly and Kudzai really led the way for us all week, setting the tone with their consistency and confidence. Luise stepped up in a big way with an outstanding third round, and Kayla and Riley were phenomenal as upper-class leaders keeping this group focused and together. I couldn't be more proud of how this team competed and represented UNOH athletics!"

With the team championship, UNOH punches their ticket to the NAIA National Championship for the eighth time in ten years. The event is scheduled to take place May 19-22 at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan.