CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The excitement for the 2026 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women's Golf Championship is gearing up as teams prepare to tee it up at Sunnyside Golf & Country Club in Waterloo, Iowa for the first time in championship history. Simpson College will serve as the host for the championship. 
 

2026 American Rivers Conference Women's Golf Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll
Place	Team (first-place votes)	Points
1.	University of Dubuque (7)	49
2.	Wartburg College	43
3.	Buena Vista University	36
4.	Central College	27
5.	Simpson College	25
6.	Coe College	20
7.	Loras College	17
8.	Nebraska Wesleyan University	7

Championship Fast Facts: 
This year's championship will be a single, weekend, three-day event where 18 holes will be contested each day. All three days will begin at 9:00 a.m., with split tees being implemented in the final round only. 

On the first day of the championship, teams will tee off according to seed, based on averages from its four best 18-hole team scores during the fall season. The University of Dubuque, as reigning team champion, receives the top seed in this year's championship. Players from teams seventh and eighth (Loras and Nebraska Wesleyan) will tee off in the first wave beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by players from the teams seeded fourth through sixth (Simpson, Central, Coe) at 9:45 a.m. The final wave will consist of players from the top-three seeded teams (Univ. of Dubuque, Wartburg, and Buena Vista), with the first pairing teeing it off at 10:30 a.m.

Pairings for the final two rounds will be based on the team score following the previous round(s). Individuals will also be repositioned within their team based on their accumulating scores from prior rounds. 
 
Each school may enter five players for each round with the four best performances each day used to determine the team score. Substitutions are permitted one time throughout the championship.

Championship Details: 
Dates: October 11-13, 2026
Location: Sunnyside Golf & Country Club | Waterloo, Iowa

Defending Team Champion:
The University of Dubuque Spartans enter as the defending champions this season and have recorded a strong fall season up until this point. 

Defending Individual Champion:
There will be no repeat champion this year as UD's Leah Balsbaugh graduated from the program after a successful career for the Spartans. 

2025 Championship Recap:
The University of Dubuque secured its sixth A-R-C title in the last seven years after posting a 322 in the final round to best the field by 33 shots. Coe College finished runner-up with a three-round total of 971. UD's Leah Balsbaugh took home individual medalist honors, for the second time in her career, after posting a three-round total of 938. 

Returning All-Conference Performers from 2025 Championship: 
Payton Morton, Univ. of Dubuque (Runner-Up)
Drew Hoffer, Univ. of Dubuque (3rd)
Allie Pfantz, Central (T-4th)
Kaycee Newman, Univ. of Dubuque (6th)
Lia Maxwell, Coe (T-7th)
Elle Pechen, Loras (T-7th)
Brenna Bodensteiner, Wartburg (T-10th)

Conference Golfers of the Week: 
9/8: Madyson Mummelthei, Wartburg
9/14: Allie Pfantz, Central
9/21: Lia Maxwell, Coe
9/28: Lia Maxwell, Coe
10/5: Molly Ratchford, Wartburg

Tracking Conference Titles: 
Wartburg - 12
Central - 11
Simpson - 9
Univ. of Dubuque - 6
Buena Vista - 4
Luther - 2

Key Storylines: 
Major Awards: The A-R-C will name a Rookie of the Year following the completion of the championship. The Rookie of the Year will be the top student-athlete who is using their first year of eligibility in collegiate women's golf. The league office will also name a Golfer of the Year and Coach of the Year. 
Honorable Mention: Places 11 through 15 will earn Honorable Mention honors. 
AQ on the Line: The American Rivers Conference Women's Golf Champion will receive the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the 2027 NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship scheduled for May 11-14 in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

Fan Engagement: 
Live Scoring: https://shorturl.at/ywRlv
Spectator Guidelines: The American Rivers Conference encourages fans and spectators to attend the championship, free of charge. Per NCAA regulations, there are some guidelnies that must be followed by all golf spectators. Penalties may be assessed if a violation occurs. Let the players play and the coaches coach. Please see the list of spectator guidelines on the championship microsite. 

Weather Forecast: 
With how quickly the forecast can change, check the forecast before heading out to watch some impressive golf. It does look to be a great three days for golf, with maybe a few rain drops on Monday and Tuesday. 

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Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, X (Twitter) @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference, and LinkedIn @AmericanRiversConference

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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.