Women’s Golf Increases Lead; Bark Sits Atop Leader Board
May 14, 2026
TUSCALOOSA - The No. 1 ranked Shelton State Community College women's golf team has a two-day total of 637 (+61) and sits in first place at the mid-point of the 2026 NJCAA Women's National Championship Tournament at the Ol' Colony Golf Club on Wednesday.
Shelton State freshman Emma Bark sits in a tie for first place at +8 (152) after shooting 76 on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Bark is tied with Southern Union's Kylee Lynn atop the leaderboard. Lynn, who was the only player under par on Tuesday, shot a 10-over 82 on Wednesday.
The Lady Bucs carded a 317 (+29) during the second round to increase the lead to nine strokes over Murray State with two rounds to play. No. 2 ranked Murray (Oklahoma) State remains in second place with a two-day score of 646 (+70). Murray State shot a 325 on Wednesday to remain in second place.
"We played better than the score indicated,' head coach Chris Sanford said. "We just didn't finish the round very well. Number 9 was out last hole and we had 2 double (bogeys) and a triple (bogey). Instead of being up nine, we could be up 13 or 14.
"I am happy we have a little bigger lead, but we have to keep pushing. Emma and Katie are doing well and are in the top 5. But they have to keep grinding. It's been a positive 2 days, but we have a lot golf left. We are only going to focus on tomorrow."
No. 4 Wallace State Hanceville (+91) and No. 5 Jeff State (+91) are tied for third place. No. 6 Southern Union (+98) remained in fifth place.
Wallace State made the biggest jump on Wednesday, shooting a 327 (+39) to move from eighth place into a tie for third place.
Sophomore Katie Hallmark, one of two returning players off last year's National Championship team, moved up to a tie for third place in the leaderboard after shooting a 76 (+4) on Wednesday. She is tied with Northeast Mississippi's Andie Kate Ramsey (+10) and Wallace State's Mallory Brooks (+10). Brooks had the second-lowest round on Wednesday with a 3-over 75.
Florida Gateway's Karlee Gainey had the lowest score on Wednesday with a 2-over 74.
Shelton State freshman Riley Fritz carded an 81 on Wednesday and moved into a tie for 12th place at +20 (164). She had two in the second round. Fritz is tied with Jeff State's Rebecca Pearce (+20) in the individual standings.
Sophomore Sawyer Hobbs shot an 84 (+12) in the second round and is tied for 18th place with a +23 (167) total. Hobbs, the other returning player from last year's National Championship team, had back-to-back birdies on No. 4 and No. 5 on Wednesday.
Freshman Katie Brannon shot an 84 on Wednesday and is in a five-way tie (+23) after Wednesday's round.
Shelton State (Bark and Hallmark) and Murray State (Amiya Raja and Paula Grorstiaga) are the only two schools with multiple players in the Top 10 scorers.
The third round of the four-day event will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 8 a.m.
Team Leaders (After Day One)
Shelton State +61 (320-317)
Murray State +70 (321-325)
Jeff State +91 (325-342)
Wallace State +91 (340-327)
Southern Union +98 (337-337)
Gateway College +99 (339-336)
Jacksonville College +100 (339-337)
Mesa College +106 (339-343)
NW Mississippi +124 (342-358)
Des Moines Area CC +127 (350-353)
Individual Leaders (After Day One)
Emma Bark (Shelton State) +8 (76-76)
Kylee Lynn (Southern Union) +8 (70-82)
Andi Kate Ramey (NE Mississippi) +10 (77-77)
Katie Hallmark (Shelton State) +10 (78-76)
Mallory Brooks (Wallace State) +10 (79-75)
Amiya Raja (Murray Stare) +11 (72-82)
Karlee Gainey (Murray State) +12 (82-74)
Abree Germaine (Mesa CC) +14 (82-74)
Paige Hill (Jacksonville) +15 (76-83)
Paula Gorostiaga (Murray State) +17 (79-82)