After a great showing at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship at the end of April, the Thunderbirds will aim to win their third banner of the season when they take on some top teams from across the United States at the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
 
With the tournament running from Tuesday, May 19 through Friday, May 22, the Thunderbirds are aiming for what would be their second straight NAIA title, and their fifth in the last six seasons they've competed for it.
 
It's a very different group this time around, of course, with Jessica Ng being the lone returning player from the five who won the championship last year (and the reigning individual champion). Sienna Harder also walked the course at last year's championship as a substitute, but didn't play.
 

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"The practice round on Monday will be the first time for three of the girls to see the course, so it will be crucial," said UBC assistant coach Keri Moffat. "It's going to be the first national championship for most of our team and I want to have them share what that feels like for them, then I want Jess to talk about what her first one felt like for her so that the newer girls don't feel so alone in it.
 
"Jess is here in her fourth year, but she was a first-year at one point so she can provide a lot of storytelling and make the girls feel more at ease by talking about her experiences, which is another way to bring the team together."
 
UBC's lone graduating senior seems to be back in top form again this spring, with Ng coming off an individual title win at the CCC Championship – the second of her career. The younger T-Birds on the squad have also shown their pedigree, with Keira Hou named the CCC Player of the Year and both Harder and Sarah Yang joining Hou and Ng on the CCC All-Conference Team.
 
The Thunderbirds have put together another strong campaign, winning seven of the 11 events they've played in so far in 2025-26. With three of the four events they didn't win being NCAA Division I tournaments, the 'Birds certainly have plenty of experience going up against very tough competition.


 
"Because we're such a young team, when a player gets to university they're more used to playing junior golf, which is a very individual mindset," remarked Moffat on how the group has had to come together this season. "Then when you get to college golf, all of a sudden you have a team. So, unless you've played a lot of team sports, including golf, sometimes university golf is the first time you experience being on a team.
 
"I think one of our biggest values as T-Birds is we're stronger together and it's okay to make mistakes because you have a team around you, to be there, to help you, to pick you up on the golf course."
 
UBC enters the week ranked sixth in the NAIA. Dalton State College holds the top spot, with the Georgia outfit followed by Florida's Keiser University, last year's NAIA runner's up behind the T-Birds.
 
The battle for the national banner will be a long one, with the competing squads set for four rounds of competition over four days. The Thunderbirds will need to put forward some sustained excellence if they are to come away with another trophy for the program's decorated cabinet.


 
Like last year, the championship will be held at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti. The T-Birds will help kick off the event, with UBC paired up with Dalton State and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to begin Tuesday's action at 4:30 a.m. (PT). The Thunderbirds will then be in the afternoon session on Wednesday, beginning their play at 10:00 a.m. (PT). From there the field will be cut in half for the final two rounds.
 
"It's about the tee shot," mused Moffat on what it's like playing at Eagle Crest. "Evaluating the risk of where you hit driver off the tee will be key. Hybrids, long irons and fairway woods are going to be needed. It can get a little windy and the rough can be a little sticky. We're working a lot on wedges this week and a lot on tee shots other than driver."
 
You can follow the tournament through the live stats link HERE, or tune into the Urban Edge Network for a broadcast of the event, produced by The National Golf Network.