NORTH PLAINS, Ore. – Led by All-Northwest Conference player Erin Pierce, the Whitworth women's golf team finished in second place at the 2026 NWC Tournament on Monday at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, taking second in the final league standings. In addition, Pirate first-year Carolyn Rose was selected as the conference's Rookie of the Year.
After leading Monday's first round, the Pirates were unable to hold off 27th-ranked George Fox on Monday. The hard-charging Bruins won by eight strokes after trailing Whitworth by five through Monday's round. The Pirates shot 313-326 – 639.
The final team scores were: GFU 631, Whitworth 639, Lewis & Clark 657, Pacific 671, Pacific Lutheran 694, Puget Sound 699, Linfield 740, Whitman incomplete.
Pierce was in contention for medalist honors throughout the tournament and finished in third place after shooting 76-78 – 154 (+12), only one stroke behind co-leaders Jayda Thomas (PLU) and Camila Yoo (Whitman).
Based on her results over the course of the three NWC events – the 2025 Fall Classic, the 2026 NWC Spring Classic, the 2026 NWC Tournament, Pierce earned second team All-NWC honors.
Stella Fergin posted a total of 79-80 – 159 for eighth place, while Carolyn Rose tied for 11th place with a score of 78-84 – 162. Based on results over the course of the three NWC events, Rose is the NWC's Rookie of the Year. Ashley Maki (80-84 – 164) finished 15th and Rosalind Nordberg (88-87 – 175) tied for 23rd.
Fergin, Rose and Nordberg all received third team All-NWC recognition. All five Pirate players will return in 2026-27.
With its victory at the NWC Tournament, George Fox solidified its spot atop the NWC standings, which are based on cumulative scores over the three conference events. The Bruins' final total was 1,901 strokes, 27 shots ahead of the Pirates' total of 1,928. Lewis & Clark (1,963) finished a distant third. George Fox earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament in May.
