A historic milestone in Tallahassee
The Eastern Michigan University (EMU) women’s golf team entered the 2026 NCAA Tallahassee Regional as a program on the rise, but they left as history-makers. Competing in their first-ever NCAA postseason as a team, the No. 27-ranked Eagles secured a fourth-place finish with a three-round total of 5-over 869 (287-293-289). This performance at the Seminole Legacy Golf Club not only punched their ticket to the national championships but also established EMU as a powerhouse within the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Before this season, the program had never reached an NCAA regional as a team, and they now join Kent State as the only two MAC programs to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Navigating weather and pressure
The path to the championships was not without its obstacles, particularly during the second round of play on May 12. The Eagles had to contend with a field of top-ranked opponents and significant weather disruptions, including multiple lightning delays totaling over 2.5 hours. Despite these challenges, the team utilized a "hot start" and a resilient finish to maintain their position within the top five, which was the threshold required to advance.
By the end of the second day, EMU sat in fourth place alone at 4-over 580, leading the University of Louisiana Monroe and holding their ground against No. 15 UCLA. This consistency was a hallmark of their season; in 12 tournaments during the 2025-26 campaign, the Eagles finished in the top four on 11 occasions. Head Coach Josh Brewer noted that the team "believed in doing something that there is no way to see it, but you could only dream about it".
Final round surge and team performance
In the final round on May 13, the Eagles carded a 289, which tied for the 23rd-best single-round score in program history. Their final tournament score of 869 was the eighth-best 54-hole total in the program's record books. The Eagles' success was underscored by their ability to outperform higher-ranked teams, most notably finishing three strokes ahead of No. 15 UCLA.
The competitive landscape of the Tallahassee Regional saw No. 9 Wake Forest take the top spot at 8-under 856, followed by No. 25 Florida State and No. 3 Florida. Eastern Michigan's fourth-place finish comfortably placed them ahead of No. 34 Kentucky, the final team to qualify for the national event.
Individual excellence: The Leovao sisters and Sukterm
Individual performances were critical to the team's collective success. Janae Leovao led the Eagles, finishing tied for seventh place with a 3-under 213 (68-73-72). This score represented the best 54-hole regional performance of her career and tied for the 14th-lowest score in EMU history.
Baiyok Sukterm followed closely, securing ninth place at 2-under 214. Sukterm was the only Eagle to record multiple rounds under par during the tournament, firing a 71 in the second round and a 70 in the third. Her performance was a significant milestone, marking her best regional finish to date.
Other key contributors included Jasmine Leovao and Savannah de Bock, who both tied for 26th at 5-over 221. For de Bock, this was the best regional score of her career, while Jasmine Leovao’s performance secured her a return trip to the national championships, where she previously competed as an individual in 2024. Mariana Vega rounded out the team, finishing tied for 52nd.
The road to Carlsbad
With the regional hurdles cleared, the Eagles now look toward the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships, held May 22-27 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. This location holds special significance for the Leovao sisters, as the course is a mere 20-minute drive from their hometown of Oceanside.
The national event will feature 30 teams competing in three rounds of stroke play. The field will then be cut to the top 15 teams for a final round of stroke play, eventually narrowing to the top eight teams for a match-play bracket to determine the national champion. As Coach Brewer summarized, the team is ready to "keep counting it down and picking up tee times" as they represent Eastern Michigan on the grandest stage in collegiate golf.
