SILVIS, Ill. – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds earned the 2023 NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship at TPC Deere Run with a tournament final score of 1199 (+63) to win by 29 strokes.

A final round low of 296 (+12) was the best score in the field on Friday and the only one under 300, besting the next closest team score by 12 strokes on their way to hoisting the 2023 Tournament Championship Trophy and taking home the Red Banner for a second consecutive season. 

UBC touted four All-Tournament selection individuals led by Sonja Tang’s fourth place finish after she shot a final round 74 (+3) to finish the tournament at 299 (+15). Una Chou’s 300 (+16) tied her for seventh, Grace Bell’s 302 (+18) tied her for ninth, and Elizabeth Labbe shot the best round of the day and only the second under par round of the tournament at 70 (-1) to finish tied for 12^th at 305 (+21).

With the team portion of the national championship well in hand early in the final round, eyes were glued to the battle for the Individual National Champion as Oklahoma City's MaKayla Tyrrell used a strong final eight holes to clinch the individual title by three strokes at 294 (+10).

Sitting at +13 number after a first 10 holes at four over par following a double bogey on the 10^th hole, Tyrrell finished the final eight holes with four birdies, three pars, and a bogey while closing out the last six holes under par on the final six holes, basically winning herself the National Medalist with that final stretch.

Both Hannah Ulibarri of The Master’s (Calif.) and Catherine Batang of Menlo (Calif.) set the clubhouse lead at 297 (+13) with Tyrrell still on the course as Ulibarri held the individual lead heading into the final round and Batang rallied into contention with a final round 74 (+3), stamping the end of her round with a long par putt on hole No. 9 to share that clubhouse lead with Ulibarri before Tyrrell locked the title down in the final stretch.

Top 10 Team Standings

1. British Columbia – 1199 (+63)

2. Keiser (Fla.) – 1228 (+92)

3. Oklahoma City – 1230 (+94)

T4. Dalton State (Ga.) – 1244 (+108)

T4. William Carey (Miss.) – 1244 (+108)

T6. SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) – 1246 (+110)

T6. Embry Riddle (Ariz.) – 1246 (+110)

8. Southeastern (Fla.) – 1254 (+118)

9. Milligan (Tenn.) – 1255 (+119)

10. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 1265 (+129)

Top 10 Individual Standings

1. MaKayla Tyrrell (Oklahoma City) – 294 (+10)

T2. Hannah Ulibarri (The Master’s) – 297 (+13)

T2. Catherine Batang (Menlo) – 297 (+13)

T4. Hoi Ki Lau (Keiser) – 299 (+15)

T4. Nichakorn Prapsripoom (William Carey) – 299 (+15)

T4. Sonja Tang (British Columbia) – 299 (+15)

T7. Una Chou (British Columbia) – 300 (+16)

T7. Kate Castle (Milligan) – 300 (+16)

T9. Sydney Hermann (Dalton State) – 302 (+18)

T9. Grace Bell (British Columbia) – 302 (+18)

T9. Gracie Blook (William Carey) – 302 (+18)

The top-15 individual finishers earned All-Tournament honors as the 11 above along with Elizabeth Labbe (British Columbia), Carolina Alblas (Keiser), Kaetlin Halseth (Embry Riddle), Zoe Wuermli (Northwestern Ohio), and Maddi Kamas (Oklahoma City).