YPSILANTI, MI. – For the third time in the past four years, the NAIA Women's Golf Championship is coming to Canada, tariff-free.

The No.1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds reclaimed the title to cap a dominant season of NAIA golf. The blue and gold won all six NAIA tournaments that they entered throughout the year, including the championship, and had a stranglehold on the top ranking in the Association throughout.

The 'Birds (+17) finished their fantastic season by proving to be a cut above the rest of the field throughout the four round national championship, taking the eighth NAIA title in program history by 24 strokes.



The expectations were sky high for this group, which featured four graduating seniors among the five starters, looking to make good on their last chance to win the NAIA crown. However, it was the lone non-senior on the squad, third-year Jessica Ng, who led the charge for UBC throughout the tournament.

Ng (-5) was the top T-Bird on the leaderboard from start to finish, grabbing the overall lead on day two and holding off her 154 competitors for the rest of the four-round event to take the individual title by three strokes.

"For the first three rounds I don't check the leaderboard, I only checked on the 18^th hole today, so I had no idea where things were at until then," laughed Ng, reflecting on her win. "I just like to play my own game because whether my opponents are doing well or not, I'm focused on making birdies.

"I had a bit of an inkling that I was leading because there were so many cameras on me later in the round and the coaches kept saying 'you're fine, you're fine'. But I didn't really know for sure until right before my 18^th hole tee shot."



Ng becomes the second Thunderbirds ever to be medalist at the NAIA Championship, following Kylie Barros in 2011. She's the first T-Bird ever to win the individual and team title in the same season.
"Every time I'm leading or have a chance in the tournament I check the leaderboard before the last hole because I want to know if I have to make something happen," said Ng. "It helps control my nerves also.

"Hitting those shots on 18 today was very tough. I was so nervous standing over the ball, especially with all of my teammates gathering to watch. But it was a really great experience, so exciting!"



While Ng had the spotlight for most of the event, teammate Una Chou was the best player on the course on Friday, carding a spectacular 66 (-6) to move to +1 for the tournament and finish in fourth place. Grace Bell also shot a 72 (E) on Friday for her best round of the event, moving up into a tie for 11^th at +9 overall. Ng, Chou and Bell were all named to the All-Tournament Team for being among the top-15 players at the event.
 
"I think as a group we're all very supportive of each other, so I think that when we're all on the course it's nice to know that we have each other's back," reflected Ng. "Having high expectations throughout was great, because it just means that people believe in us, they support us, and we knew that we deserved that number one spot."

FULL LEADERBOARD

The team met those lofty expectations from the moment that they first stepped on the course, which was at 4:30 a.m. (PT) on Tuesday, after only one day to adjust to a three time zone change from Vancouver.

"I definitely think that the time change was a big challenge," mused Ng. "Making sure we were well rested was a priority, getting to bed early. For my own preparation it was about balancing training as well as rest and recovery, in previous years I've had a little trouble finding that balance."

She and the team didn't show their fatigue in the opening 18, jumping out to a four-stroke lead after round one. By the end of day two that lead had increased to 12 strokes, and it was a 15-shot edge ahead of Friday's finale. With pressure peaking, the 'Birds responded by pulling away further, carding the best round in the field all four days with a stellar even par finish, winning the event by 24 strokes over 2024 NAIA Champion Keiser University (+41).



"This win for the team was definitely a big one," reflected Ng. "The last time we won I was in my first year, with the same set of girls, which made this one really special.

"I was thinking of the four graduating seniors I was playing with for my whole round. They've really been a huge part of my experience with UBC golf and a huge inspiration, so to win with them again was truly amazing."

Ng and her four senior teammates will have one more meaningful tournament together as T-Birds as they look to sweep the season's national titles at the Golf Canada Canadian University/College Championship next month. UBC will be looking to win its eighth consecutive Canadian championship at Rivershore Golf Link in Kamloops, B.C., June 3-6.