Kansas Captures NCAA Columbus Regional Title
The NCAA Columbus Regional concluded at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course (Par 72) with a historic victory for Kansas and a dramatic final-day push by LSU to secure the last qualifying berth for the NCAA Championship.
Kansas emerged as the clear winner, claiming its first-ever NCAA Regional title and notching its sixth team victory of the season. The Jayhawks, seeded fourth in the field, posted a winning score of 6-under par to top a competitive leaderboard that saw several national contenders battling for position.
The individual highlight of the week came from Kansas sophomore Lyla Louderbaugh, who fired a sensational final-round 65 to finish at 12 under and capture the individual title by eight shots. Her dominant performance led the Jayhawks to a commanding team victory and secured her spot as one of the breakout stars heading into nationals.
Rounding out the five teams advancing to the NCAA Championship were Arkansas (-3), Ohio State (+1), UNLV (+4), and LSU (+18). For LSU, it was a remarkable comeback that defined the final round.
After falling to +21 and out of the top five following a rain-soaked second round, LSU entered the final day in survival mode. The Tigers, who have made resilience a hallmark of their season, drew on past postseason experience to mount a comeback. Starting on the more challenging back nine, LSU saw a wild round from Taylor Riley that included a double bogey, a hole-out eagle, and a triple bogey. Still, the team capitalized with key birdies on the par-5 14th and steady play on the par-4 16th.
That momentum carried into the front nine, where LSU’s counting scores combined for 4 under par. Their final total of +18 was just enough to hold off Kent State, who was only one shot back with two holes to play but unraveled with a 6-over finish on 17 and 18 to fall to seventh place.
This marks LSU’s fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship. With seasoned leaders like Aine Donegan and Taylor Riley alongside rising freshman Rocio Tejedo, the Tigers are well-positioned for a strong run at nationals.
Final Team Standings – Top 5 Advance to NCAA Championship
- Kansas (-6)
- Arkansas (-3)
- Ohio State (+1)
- UNLV (+4)
- LSU (+18)
Teams Eliminated
- Houston (+22)
- Kent State (+25)
- SMU (+26)
- Illinois (+27)
- Xavier (+29)
- Illinois State (+58)
- Oakland (+78)
Individual Qualifiers and Highlights
- Lyla Louderbaugh of Kansas dominated the field with a 7-under 65 in the final round, finishing at -12 to win the individual title.
- Moa Svedenshiold of Houston advanced to nationals as the top individual not on a qualifying team, finishing at 2 under par.
Additional Notes
- Arkansas advances to its second consecutive NCAA Championship, a feat it last accomplished in 2018–19.
- Ohio State, the host team, returns to nationals for the first time since 2018.
- UNLV, seeded outside the top five, made a surprise run and will make its first NCAA Championship appearance since 2015.
