PALM DESERT, Calif. - The University of Dubuque women's team finished the highest ever in school history this week by placing 14th overall in the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championships for head coach Dustin Bierman. The Spartans made the cut for the first time in school history after a low round of 295 in the second round to sit 12th overall and the cut was 15. UD fired four rounds of 311-295-319-308 (1233) to finish the tournament at Desert Willow Golf Resort. The Spartans entered the tournament ranked 46th and was the highest team to make the top-15 cut.

Leah Balsbaugh (Sussex, Wis. / Hamilton) tied for 36th overall and led the Spartans with rounds of 73-73-79-74 (299), Drew Hoffer (Oregon, Wis. / Oregon) fired rounds of 76-73-82-77 (308) tied for 56th, Kaycee Newman (Eldridge, Iowa / North Scott) had rounds of 80-73-80-82 (315) tied for 67th, Payton Morton (Twin Lakes, Wis. / Wilmot) 86-76-83-75 (320) was 73rd, and Gracie Russell (Woodhull, Ill. / Alwood) 82-81-78-85 (326) 79th place.

Just so proud of these ladies and the way they represent the UD Spartans golf program and this university," said head coach Dustin Bierman. "They did something which has never been done before in our program, with them making the cut. Being a Top-14 program in the country means a lot and all the credit goes to them, they have elevated the UD to new heights. We have one senior in Leah Balsbaugh and she is going to be missed. Leah will walk out of this program the most accomplished player we have ever had and that's saying something. Two-time player of the year in the American Rivers Conference and Women's Golf Coaches Association All-Region 3 (Central). She is a special person and has led us all year. What a ride!" 

FINAL RESULTS CLICK HERE:

UD Women's Golf - NCAA Championships History Record Book
Single-Day Individual Score: 73 (+1) - Leah Balsbaugh (2026)
Single-Day Team Score: 295 (2026) (Leah Balsbaugh, Drew Hoffer, Kaycee Newman, Payton Morton, Gracie Russell)
Two-Day Individual Score: 146 (+2) - Leah Balsbaugh (2026)
Three-Day Individual Score: 225 (+7) Leah Balsbaugh (2026)
Four-Dy Individual Score: 299 (+11) Leah Balsbaugh (2026)
Two-Day Team Score: 606 (2026) (Leah Balsbaugh, Drew Hoffer, Kaycee Newman, Payton Morton, Gracie Russell)
Three-Day Team Score: 925 (2026) (Leah Balsbaugh, Drew Hoffer, Kaycee Newman, Payton Morton, Gracie Russell)
Four-Day Team Score: 1233 (Leah Balsbaugh, Drew Hoffer, Kaycee Newman, Payton Morton, Gracie Russell)
Best Team Finish: 14th Place (311-295-319-308=1233) +81 (2026)
Making the Cut: 2026

Palm Desert, Calif.
Desert Willow GR - Firecliff • Par 72, 5883 Yards
Desert Willow GR - Mountain View • Par 72, 5873 Yards
same • Par 72, 5883 Yards
same • Par 72, 5883 Yards

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Team Standings

Rank		Team	Scores				Total	Par
	1	# - Emory	289	293	288	284	1154	+2
	2	# - Carnegie Mellon	295	291	285	290	1161	+9
	3	# - New York Univ.	291	296	294	285	1166	+14
	4	# - Washington and Lee	296	292	294	292	1174	+22
	5	# - Washington-St. Louis	290	304	304	277	1175	+23
	6	# - Pomona-Pitzer	295	303	296	291	1185	+33
t	7	# - Amherst	298	300	300	290	1188	+36
t	7	# - Claremont-Mudd-Scripps	291	297	308	292	1188	+36
	9	# - Middlebury	292	298	303	303	1196	+44
	10	# - Williams	295	306	294	308	1203	+51
	11	# - Carleton	296	306	302	300	1204	+52
	12	# - Randolph-Macon	311	300	300	296	1207	+55
	13	$ - Sewanee	307	300	308	304	1219	+67
	14	$ - Dubuque	311	295	319	308	1233	+81
	15	$ - Grinnell	317	298	318	301	1234	+82
		$ - Piedmont	319	313	dnc	dnc	632	-88
		$ - Saint Mary's (Ind.)	319	319	dnc	dnc	638	-82
		# - Illinois Wesleyan	310	307	dnc	dnc	617	+41
		# - Redlands	313	304	dnc	dnc	617	+41
		$ - George Fox	317	307	dnc	dnc	624	+48
		# - Denison	313	312	dnc	dnc	625	+49
		# - Mary Hardin-Baylor	314	312	dnc	dnc	626	+50
		$ - UW-Stout	327	303	dnc	dnc	630	+54
		$ - LeTourneau	323	319	dnc	dnc	642	+66
		$ - Aurora	326	317	dnc	dnc	643	+67
		$ - York (Pa.)	325	320	dnc	dnc	645	+69
		$ - Marymount (Va.)	322	324	dnc	dnc	646	+70
		$ - Northwestern-St. Paul	334	321	dnc	dnc	655	+79
		$ - Ohio Northern	322	337	dnc	dnc	659	+83
		$ - Washington and Jefferson	344	331	dnc	dnc	675	+99
		$ - Catholic	347	331	dnc	dnc	678	+102
		$ - Transylvania	349	348	dnc	dnc	697	+121
		$ - SUNY Cortland	365	342	dnc	dnc	707	+131
		$ - Suffolk	372	350	dnc	dnc	722	+146

 

$ - U. of Dubuque	311	295	319	308	1233	+81	14th
Leah Balsbaugh	73	73	79	74	299	+11	t-36th
Drew Hoffer	76	73	82	77	308	+20	t-56th
Kaycee Newman	80	73	80	82	315	+27	t-67th
Payton Morton	86	76	83	75	320	+32	73rd
Gracie Russell	82	81	78	85	326	+38	79th