CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (May 13, 2026) – Howard University women's golf team concluded its 2025-26 season at the NCAA Regional Round in Chapel Hill, N.C., hosted by the Tar Heels. The three-day tourney (May 11-13) took place at the UNC Finley Golf Club (par-70, 6,177 yards).
 
HU's historic season saw four Bison competing in their first-ever NCAA Regionals.
 
Senior Marley Franklin (Los Angeles) led the charge throughout, finishing 5-over par (75) in round three. The reigning NEC Golfer of the Year tied for 40^th overall after firing 12-over par (222) in 54 holes of action.
 
Junior Paris Fieldings (Chesapeake, Va.), the 2024 NEC Golfer of the Year, spearheaded the Bison on Day Three, shooting 2-over par (72). The two-time All-NEC First Team selection wrapped up her season tying for 50^th on the player leaderboard (225, +15).
 
Sophomore Lena Durette (Scottsdale, Ariz.) ended her first season as a Bison, recording 3-over par (73) with back-to-back birdies in the final round. The Arizona product tied for 53^rd place (226, +16).
 
Reigning NEC Rookie of the Year freshman Mia Melendez (Ann Arbor, Mich.) shot 7-over par (77) in the third round, placing 61^st overall (234, +24), while second-year Bison Laniah Moffett (Waterbury, Conn.) rounded out HU with 42-over par (252) across three days.
 
Overall, the Bison posted 907 (+67), including 297 (+17) on the final day. Howard placed 12^th on the team leaderboard.
 
No. 5 Texas (835, -5), No. 12 UNC (846, +6) and No. 20 Oklahoma State (848, +8) finished first, second and third, respectively, and punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships. No. 39 Michigan State, No. 35 Virginia and No. 44 North Carolina State tied for the final two spots with the Spartans and Cavs prevailing in the playoff holes.
 
No. 110 Thanana Kotchasanmanee (Princeton) advanced to the championship round as an individual, winning the tourney with a 6-under par (214) performance.
 
HU reached the NCAA postseason for the first time in program history, led by NEC Coach of the Year Sam Puryear. Additionally, Durette, Franklin, Fieldings, Melendez and senior Morgan Horrell (Dallas) made conference history, becoming the first five teammates to earn All-NEC First Team honors in the same season.
 
Coach Puryear and the Bison look to repeat as NEC Champions in spring 2027 and return back to the NCAA postseason.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.