Schuitema Opens Play at National Championships
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The 2026 NAIA Women's Golf NAIA National Championships got underway on Wednesday with TU's Eleanor Schuitema opening with a strong first 18 holes of competition.
Schuitema began play on the back-nine with bogeys on two of the first three holes, but rebounded to play even-par over the next four. A birdie on 18 positioned Schuitema at one-over par through her first nine holes.
The front nine played out nearly the same, with a pair of bogeys surrounded by even-par play through the first eight. The ninth hole again proved pivotal to Schuitema's round, but this time a double-bogey pushed her score to five-over par.
Schuitema's 77 put her in a tie for 32nd in the field of 156 and five shots off the leader's pace but just two shots back of a spot in the top-10.
Schuitema is set to tee off in Thursday's second round at 9:30 am and will need to finish her round inside the top-six individuals on the leaderboard who are not members of advancing teams in order to make the cut for Friday's final round.