BECKER, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) is ready for an exciting three days of action at the Women's Golf Championship set to begin at 11 a.m. this Thursday at Pebble Creek Golf Club. The tournament runs October 8-10 with the winner earning the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA DIII Championship in May 2027.
Here's some of the key information to know before the championship begins Thursday:
Championship History
- The University of Northwestern won last year’s championship by shooting 986 (+122).
- The Eagles are the three-time defending UMAC Champions.
- Northwestern's Paige Johnson is the defending individual medalist as she carded a 239 at last year's Championships.
- The Eagles’ Morgan (Eckman) Philyaw was as the individual medalist as the Individual Champion in 2023 and 2024
- Northwestern has won four of the past five championships with titles in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The University of Minnesota Morris won the 2022 championship.
- Johnson set the 36-hole scoring record at the Championships with her 157.
- She later set the 54-hole scoring record at the Championships with her 239.
- Since 2006, Northwestern has the most championships among active UMAC members with seven, while Minnesota Morris follows with three.
2026 Season Highlights
- Northwestern won the UMAC Preview with a team score of 316. The Eagles had five varsity team members and one individual in the top 10.
- Bri Brandt of the Eagles was the individual medalist at the Preview with her score of 74.
- Philyaw of Northwestern was three-strokes behind Brandt for second-place at the UMAC Preview.
- Northwestern had the lowest team round this fall with a 298 at the Twin Ports Collegiate.
- Abby Schintz of UW-Superior has carded the lowest individual round this fall with a 69 at the Twin Ports Collegiate.
- Philyaw leads all UMAC competitors with her 75.6 average. Teammate Bri Brandt follows at 77.3..
2026 Team Season Leaderboard
| SCORING AVERAGE |
Rounds |
Strokes |
Avg |
| University of Northwestern |
10 |
3120 |
312.0 |
| UW-Superior |
12 |
4061 |
338.4 |
| Bethany Lutheran College |
11 |
3970 |
360.9 |
| Crown College |
10 |
4175 |
417.5 |
| Martin Luther College |
9 |
3971 |
441.2 |
| Minnesota Morris |
8 |
3766 |
470.8 |
2026 Individual Season Leaderboard (Top 10)
| SCORING AVERAGE |
Team |
Rounds |
Strokes |
Avg |
| Morgan Philyaw |
University of Northwestern |
10 |
756 |
75.6 |
| Bri Brandt |
University of Northwestern |
10 |
773 |
77.3 |
| Paige Johnson |
University of Northwestern |
10 |
785 |
78.5 |
| Brielle Lenz |
University of Northwestern |
10 |
810 |
81.0 |
| Abby Schintz |
UW-Superior |
10 |
812 |
81.2 |
| Olivia Weyenberg |
UW-Superior |
12 |
991 |
82.6 |
| Shelby Cash |
Crown College |
10 |
830 |
83.0 |
| Eva Stuewe |
Bethany Lutheran College |
11 |
922 |
83.8 |
| Makayla Ammerman |
UW-Superior |
12 |
1011 |
84.3 |
| Ellie Rolland |
University of Northwestern |
8 |
689 |
86.1 |