If you follow golf, then you would definitely know Annika Sorenstam and Grace Park, two prominent names in the LPGA Tour. But did you know how they got the boost for a professional career transition? Well, it is the NCAA Div I Women’s Golf Championship, which helps the collegiate golfer to get recognition and the opportunity to become a professional.

But getting to the top of the leaderboard isn’t a cakewalk, as teams will have to make the cut with each level.

Making the cut at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship

The event, which began in 1982, has become a tradition for collegiate-level golfers. Although the tournament was solely stroke play until 2014, in 2015, the match play was added to the format, making it even interesting. For the fact, the first edition was won by Stanford, and in 2024, too, Stanford took the trophy, but did you know how the teams qualify to clinch the title?

As part of the process, first, the golfers with their team will have to participate in the six regional tournaments. Each tournament has a cap limit of 12 teams and six individuals. After three rounds of stroke play, the top five teams from each region, with the top individual, will move towards the national championship.

That’s when the competition among the top teams gets intense. With 30 teams from 6 regions and six individual leaders, three rounds of stroke play will decide who will move ahead in the tournament. Unlike the regular tournaments, where the cut line is after two rounds, here, after three rounds, 50% of the roster will fail to qualify, which means only 15 teams will move to the final leg of the tournament.

The final two stages to clinch the trophy

After making the cut, only the top 15 teams will get the opportunity to compete in the final round of stroke play. The final 18 holes will be the decider for the team to further filter for the final set of teams. On the other hand, for the individual championship, the top players with the best score after four rounds will take the title.

Now that the winner among the 6 top individuals is clear, it’s time the decide the top team of the National Championship. Out of the 15 teams participating in the final round, only eight will make it through the Match Play, i.e., the decider segment of the tournament. The teams will compete through quarterfinals, semifinals, and then to the finals to determine the winning team.

With the 2025 season, Stanford, the defending champion, will aim to increase the win count from three to four and be among the three most winning teams of the event. But will Arizona state 8 times champion, and Duke, the 7-time champion will let Stanford defend the title? Let us know what you think in the comments below.