Kearney, Neb. – Junior Liz Lyons parred the par 3 18th hole to help Nebraska Kearney secure the 2026 MIAA Tournament Championship Wednesday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.

The three-day, 54-hole event was played at the par 70 Mules National-Keith Memorial G.C. (5,609 yards). The 13 teams battled strong winds each day with the average round being an 80.4; it dipped to a 79.2 on Wednesday as the winds died down a bit. 

UNK turned in a 907 (306-303-298) to slip past Washburn by two strokes (313-294-302). The Lopers overcame a slow start on Monday morning to be in contention for most of the tournament. They briefly held a 10-stroke lead early Tuesday before the 'Bods turned in a second round 294. 

Fittingly, it all came down to the 18th hole today with UNK ahead by a stroke over WU. Lyons (Olathe, Kan.), now a two-time All-MIAA pick, had a strong tee shot as did the rest of the group including the 'Bods Susana Granados Carrion. While Lyons missed a birdie by a couple of feet, so did Granados Carrion as her firm attempt grazed the cup and flew on by. On her par shot, the ball lipped out for a bogey. That set up Lyons who knocked in a two-footer for the title. UNK's only other MIAA crown came in 2022.

Lyons shot a 13-over par 223 (76-73-74) to come in second behind Jessica Parker of Northeastern State (222/73-73-76). Lyons was among the tourney leaders in par 4 hole scoring (4.13) and pars (33).

The other four Lopers were tied for either ninth or 15th place. They were Arizona senior Emmie Rhude (229/77-75-77), Minnesota sophomore Calie Dockter (229/77-77-75), Kansas junior Claire Berquist (231/79-80-72) and Swedish freshman Pella Broms (231/76-78-77). Berquist recorded four birdies, Dockter had 31 pars, Rhude had a team-best 34 pars with Broms at 3.3 on par 3 holes. Finally, Kansas senior Beth Grant was the designated sub for the tourney. 

UNK will be one of 18 teams in the NCAA Central Regional May 4-6 in St. Joseph, Mo. That field is officially announced this Sunday (April 26).