Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's golf team has qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships for the second time in program history.

UNK finished second in the 18-team NCAA Central Regional (928/310-308-310) Wednesday afternoon in St. Joseph, Mo. The top five teams, plus two individuals not on those squads, advance to the NCAA's May 12-16 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (PGA National Resort). 

The Lopers will take part in a second straight 18-team, 54-hole event. If they place in the top eight, they'll advance on to match play and aim for the National Championship. MIAA-member Central Missouri was runner up last year, falling to Dallas Baptist in the finals.

At the St. Joe C.C. (par 72; 5,966 yards), the MIAA Champs entered Wednesday a stroke off the lead. Like Tuesday, the Lopers were in the lead for much of the day, but 47th-ranked Southwestern Oklahoma State (926/317-303-306) had seven birdies on the back nine to take the team title by two strokes.

Also headed to Florida is 35th-ranked Rogers State (937), Minnesota State (941) and 32nd-ranked Arkansas Tech (942). Carley Button of Southeastern Oklahoma state (6-over 222) and Lily Nelson of Henderson State (7-over 223) are the individuals to make it. Freya Sala of SWOSU birdied the 18th hole to earn medalist honors (221). 

UNK was led today by Kansas junior Liz Lyons (77; 39-38) and Kansas redshirt sophomore Claire Berquist (77; 35-42). Lyons had two birdies and 10 pars with Berquist managing three birdies on the front nine. Next, Arizona senior Emmie Rhude (38-40) and Swedish freshman Pella Broms (43-35) had 78's. Rhude's round featured two birdies and five pars on the back nine with Broms having back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17. She was one of only two players to have a two par 3 hole (17 yards) today. Finally, Minnesota sophomore Calie Dockter had two birdies as part of an 82 (37-45).

The 80.74 average score today was just behind round one (80.94) and ahead of round two (79.97). Overall, that came out to an 80.55. Finally for the three days, Lyons tied for 6th (12-over 228), Berquist was 18th (17-over 233), Rhude tied for 24th (237), Broms tied for 29th (238) and Dockter tied for 49th (242).

UNK's only other NCAA appearance came in 2023 when that team finished third out of 18 teams in the Central and moved onto to St. Louis for the Championships. There, they shot a 917 to finish 13th.