Women’s Golf Captures District Championship; Advances to Nationals
April 26, 2026
OXFORD - The No. 1 ranked Shelton State Community College women's golf team ran away from the field to win the 2026 NJCAA South District Championship at Cedar Ridge Golf Course.
Shelton State shot a two-day total of 636 (+60) and finished 30 strokes better than No. 4 Wallace State Hanceville, who finished with aa +90.
"I am very proud of every single one of these girls for this District Championship," said Chris Sanford, who was named the South District Coach of the Year. "They faced some adversity and handled it with flying colors.
"Sawyer (Hobbs) was sick Wednesday morning, and I had to put Addison (Davsi) in (the lineup)," Sanford added. "She was obviously surprised and then nervous but got through it and played well. Then Riley (Fritz) came down with a 24-hour bug Wednesday night, and Sawyer gave it a go on Thursday. It was just an all-around team effort to win the tournament."
Freshman Katie Brannon finished second overall with a +11 two-day score.
Brannon fired a 2-over 74 in the first round, making four birdies, three bogeys and one-double bogey. She carded a 9-over 81 in the second round.
No. 5 Jefferson State (+92), No. 7 Southern Union (+94), and No. 6 Jacksonville (Texas) College (+114) rounded out the Top 5 team totals.
Shelton State advances to the NJCAA National Championship, which will be held at Ol' Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa on May 12-15.
The event is co-sponsored by Visit Tuscaloosa and Shelton State. The Lady Bucs are the defending National Champions.
Including Brannon, all four of the Lady Bucs counting scores finished in the Top 11.
Sophomore Katie Hallmark finished fourth, freshman Emma Bark was eighth, and freshman Addison Davis finished 11th.
Hallmark finished with 15-over, 159 total. She fired a 3-over 75 in round one. After starting with two straight bogeys, she birdied No. 3 and No. 4 to finish with an even par 37 on the front nine. She shot 84 on the final day of the tournament.
Bark was 20-over (164) at the South District Championship. After opening with an 85 in the first round, she bounced back with a 79 in the second round.
Davis shot 82 and 83 to finish 21-over (165) in the event.