Nakashima Tied for First, K-State Tied for Eighth After First Round of NCAA Regional
May 11, 2026 | Women's Golf
SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – Kansas State sophomore Nanami Nakashima posted a score of 5-under par 67 – tied for the best round of the day – to lead the Wildcats during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Louisville Regional on Monday at the par-72, 6,384-yard University of Louisville Golf Club.
K-State is tied for eighth place with College of Charleston at 1-over par 289, three shots behind a tie for fifth place between Auburn and Virginia Tech. The top five teams in the NCAA Louisville Regional will advance to the NCAA Championship.
"All in all, I am happy with how everyone played as we battled and didn't shoot ourselves in the foot," head coach Stew Burke said. "We did not falter from the game plan, even after a nervy start. Nanami was a big highlight after a poor first hole, and she kept being aggressive toward the end where we knew the course could yield some birdies. More of the same with a better start is required tomorrow to get us right back in the mix on Moving Day."
After starting the day with a double bogey on No. 1, Nakashima went bogey free and 7-under par the rest of the way, which included four-straight birdies to close her round. It was the second-straight year the Kani, Japan, native recorded a score of 67 in an NCAA Regional as she posted one during the final round last year in Lexington, Kentucky, to help the Wildcats advance to their first-ever National Championship.
Nakashima is tied for the top mark with Mississippi's Kajsalotta Svarvar and Middle Tennessee's Isabella Johnson – the latter of whom is competing as an individual – entering Tuesday's second round.
Fellow sophomore Kelsey Chen had a fairly clean scorecard as she is tied for 36th place following a round of 1-over par 73. The Dalian, China, native birdied No. 4 but had a double bogey on No. 11 to push her over par on the day.
Making her first appearance in the initial scoring lineup of an event since September, freshman Stalee Fields is tied for 42nd place after posting a round of 2-over par 74, which included birdies on Nos. 7 and 12.
Senior Noa van Beek enters Tuesday's second round tied for 46th place at 3-over par 75, while freshman Keen Visavapattamawan is two shots back and tied for 52nd place.
No. 19 Mississippi and 30th-ranked Houston are tied for the team lead at 6-under par 282, two shots ahead of a tie for third place between No. 6 Arkansas and Xavier.
K-State begins its second round of the 2026 NCAA Louisville Regional on Tuesday morning with tee times beginning at 8:55 a.m. (ET), as the Wildcats will be paired with Iowa State and College of Charleston. Live results can be followed on SCOREBOARD powered by Clippd, while live coverage is available on Babygrande Golf.
K-State is tied for eighth place with College of Charleston at 1-over par 289, three shots behind a tie for fifth place between Auburn and Virginia Tech. The top five teams in the NCAA Louisville Regional will advance to the NCAA Championship.
"All in all, I am happy with how everyone played as we battled and didn't shoot ourselves in the foot," head coach Stew Burke said. "We did not falter from the game plan, even after a nervy start. Nanami was a big highlight after a poor first hole, and she kept being aggressive toward the end where we knew the course could yield some birdies. More of the same with a better start is required tomorrow to get us right back in the mix on Moving Day."
After starting the day with a double bogey on No. 1, Nakashima went bogey free and 7-under par the rest of the way, which included four-straight birdies to close her round. It was the second-straight year the Kani, Japan, native recorded a score of 67 in an NCAA Regional as she posted one during the final round last year in Lexington, Kentucky, to help the Wildcats advance to their first-ever National Championship.
Nakashima is tied for the top mark with Mississippi's Kajsalotta Svarvar and Middle Tennessee's Isabella Johnson – the latter of whom is competing as an individual – entering Tuesday's second round.
Fellow sophomore Kelsey Chen had a fairly clean scorecard as she is tied for 36th place following a round of 1-over par 73. The Dalian, China, native birdied No. 4 but had a double bogey on No. 11 to push her over par on the day.
Making her first appearance in the initial scoring lineup of an event since September, freshman Stalee Fields is tied for 42nd place after posting a round of 2-over par 74, which included birdies on Nos. 7 and 12.
Senior Noa van Beek enters Tuesday's second round tied for 46th place at 3-over par 75, while freshman Keen Visavapattamawan is two shots back and tied for 52nd place.
No. 19 Mississippi and 30th-ranked Houston are tied for the team lead at 6-under par 282, two shots ahead of a tie for third place between No. 6 Arkansas and Xavier.
K-State begins its second round of the 2026 NCAA Louisville Regional on Tuesday morning with tee times beginning at 8:55 a.m. (ET), as the Wildcats will be paired with Iowa State and College of Charleston. Live results can be followed on SCOREBOARD powered by Clippd, while live coverage is available on Babygrande Golf.
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Women's Golf, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Women's Golf, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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