Wake Forest Ready for Eighth-Straight NCAA Championship Appearance

Friday, May 22

Carlsbad, California

All Day

Wake Forest University

NCAA Championship

Wake Forest Ready for Eighth-Straight NCAA Championship Appearance

5/21/2026 7:16:00 PM | Women's Golf

Championship Central Live Stats Tee Times

The Demon Deacons are in search of their second NCAA Championship in four years.

By: Kaitlyn Stocum

CARLSBAD, Calif. - For the eighth consecutive year, Wake Forest women's golf is set to compete for the NCAA DI Women's Golf Championship at La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad, Calif. beginning Friday, May 22.

The Deacs are coming off of a dominant showing at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, securing both the team and individual title for the consecutive season.

As a team, the Demon Deacons 278 (-10) marked the lowest third round score at a regional in program history, surpassing 282 (-6) set in 2022. Additionally, at 856 (-8) the Deacs marked the lowest 54-hole team score since 2007.

Graduate student Morgan Ketchum turned in 66 (-6) in the final round to secure her co-champ title, with a 54-hole score of 209 (-7). The Winston-Salem, N.C.-native's 18-hole score today set a program record at regionals for the lowest third round score of a Deac, overtaking Jennifer Kupcho at 67 (-5) in 2018.

Three of the Deacs lineup mark their second or third time out at La Costa: sophomore Chloe Kovelesky, junior Macy Pate and senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen. All three were members of the lineup in 2025, with Pate's first time on the course as a freshman in 2024.

Ranked No. 22 in the NCAA, Pate leads the Demon Deacons in scoring average, highlighted by her season-low rounds at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup this past fall and first-career victory. The 2026 All-ACC Team member carded 68 (-4) in the final round of the NCAA Regionals to claim a top-25 spot. Since the beginning of the spring, the Winston-Salem, N.C.-native has finished T21 or better, as well as finishing in the top-25 in seven of all nine tournaments throughout the season.

Tallying back-to-back third place finishes, Kovelesky has already seen great success in the postseason. Also named to the All-ACC team, the sophomore carded both of the Deacs' low rounds during round one and two at the Tallahassee Regional, and completed the tournament at 6-under behind Ketchum.

Championship Format
Finals play for both championships consist of three days of stroke play on Friday thru Sunday (54 holes), after which the top 15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team will be determined. That is followed by a final day of 18 holes of stroke play (Monday) to determine the top eight teams that will advance to match play as well as the 72-hole individual champion. The team national champion will be determined by a match-play format that will consist of quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday.

Live Coverage (via Golf Channel, all times ET)
The 2026 NCAA Championship will begin TV coverage on Monday, May 25 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. for the final round of stroke play competition. Coverage will follow for the team match play quarterfinals from 1-3:30 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. for the semifinals. Live coverage for the national championship will be from 6-10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27.

Wake Forest Lineup
No. 22 Macy Pate

Season scoring average: 71.70
Season high-finish: 1st, Jackson T. Stephens Cup
Season low round: 67, 2x at Jackson T. Stephens Cup

No. 26 Chloe Kovelesky

Season scoring average: 72.04
Season high-finish: T1st, ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Season low round: 67, 2x, last at Jackson T. Stephens Cup

No. 40 Morgan Ketchum

Season scoring average: 72.38
Season high-finish: T1st, NCAA Tallahassee Regional
Season low round: 66, NCAA Tallahassee Regional

Anne-Sterre den Dunnen

Season scoring average: 73.26
Season high-finish: T3rd, Moon Golf Invitational
Season low round: 67, Moon Golf Invitational

Cartoon Rujiranan

Season scoring average: 72.89
Season high-finish: 1st, UNCG Collegiate
Season low round: 69, Pirate Collegiate Classic

Tee Times off of Hole 10 (Live scoring via Scoreboard)

Chloe Kovelesky - 3:45 p.m. ET
Cartoon Rujiranan - 3:56 p.m. ET
Anne-Sterre den Dunnen - 4:07 p.m. ET
Macy Pate - 4:18 p.m. ET
Morgan Ketchum - 4:29 p.m. ET

The Group of 30
1. Stanford
2. Southern California
3. Florida
4. Texas A&M
5. Texas
6. Auburn
7. Arkansas
8. Wake Forest
9. Duke
10. Pepperdine
11. North Carolina
12. SMU
13. Iowa State
14. Tennessee
15. Ole Miss
16. Oklahoma State
17. Florida State
18. Arizona State
19. Ohio State
20. Baylor
21. Eastern Michigan
22. Houston
23. Northwestern
24. Missouri
25. Kentucky
26. LSU
27. Virginia
28. Michigan State
29. Oregon State
30. Texas Tech

Course Overview

Omni La Costa Resort and Spa - Carlsbad, Calif.
Par 72 - 6,271
The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa golf program invites guests to explore the same greens that Nicklaus, Player, Mickelson, Woods and more conquered. Started at North Course, redesigned by Gil Hanse and home to the NCAA Division I Championship, the course has been restored to its original glory and offers six sets of tees creating flexibility to play from 4,500 to 7,500 yards in order to accommodate players of all skill levels. After finishing a round at this 18-hole course, ready the clubs for another day of exciting golf at the South Course; This course offers guests all-new challenges while preserving the legacy that made the course popular in the first place.