The NCAA Division I women's golf regionals are already being reshaped by unpredictable weather fronts. Lubbock, Texas, which is forecasted to face thunderstorms on Monday, will see its 12-team field teeing off earlier, with the first round now scheduled for Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Norman, Oklahoma, players will brace for a marathon session of 36 holes on Monday, as storms loom Tuesday and Wednesday, threatening to throw a wrench into the proceedings.
Lubbock braces for one to two inches of rain along with the severe weather expected Monday, although the clouds are set to part afterward. Sunday offers dry conditions but a different challenge in the form of high winds, blowing 20 to 30 mph with stronger gusts likely. Texas holds the top seed in Lubbock, followed by Wake Forest, Arizona, Texas A&M, and Iowa State.
Norman isn't faring much better, as predictions show a 100% chance of rain on Tuesday, potentially ushering in one to two inches of rainfall. Wednesday's outlook suggests scattered showers and a coin-flip chance of downpours continuing. Stanford leads the seeding here, trailed by Northwestern, North Carolina, Michigan State, and Duke, with host Oklahoma seeded sixth. Players and organizers alike have a firm deadline: no play beyond Wednesday evening.
The chaotic air echoes back to four years ago when Baton Rouge's women's regional was abruptly canceled due to relentless rains, which led to teams advancing based purely on rankings, a decision met with controversy.
Elsewhere, the schedule at the remaining four women’s regionals goes untouched. The objective: the top five finishers from each of the six sites will progress to the NCAA Championship after 54 demanding holes.
