CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (May 11, 2026) – Howard University senior
Marley Franklin (Los Angeles) and freshman
Mia Melendez (Ann Arbor, Mich.) lead the women's golf team after Day One of the NCAA Regional Round. The event is held at the UNC Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill, N.C., hosted by the Tar Heels.
Franklin, the NEC Golfer of the Year, shot 5-over par (75) with three birdies, including a pair on the back nine. Currently, the Los Angeles native is tied for 44
th place.
Melendez, the NEC Rookie of the Year, fired 6-over par (76) with a birdie on hole 16. The Michigan product is tied for 48
th overall.
All-NEC First Team selections sophomore
Lena Durette (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and junior
Paris Fieldings (Chesapeake, Va.) are tied for 57
th (78, +8) and 61
st (79, +9), respectively.
Collectively, the Bison posted a 308 (+28) in round one.
No. 12 UNC leads the field after shooting 6-under par (274), followed by No. 5 Texas (279, -1) and No. 35 Virginia (281, +1). No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 17 Mississippi State round out the top 5, tying for fourth place (282, +2).
Individually, No. 28 Megan Streicher (UNC) holds the top spot after recording 5-under par (65). No. 110 Thanana Kotchasanmanee (Princeton) and No. 14 Cindy Hsu (Texas) are tied for second place, one stroke by the Tar Heel standout (66, -4).
NCAA Regional Round continues Tuesday (May 12) with a shotgun start time at 8 a.m.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
