What Is 1985 NCAA Women's Golf Championship

Overview

The 1985 NCAA Women's Golf Championship marked a pivotal moment in collegiate women’s golf history, held in May 1985 at the Albuquerque Country Club in New Mexico. This championship was the fourth annual NCAA-sanctioned event to determine the national champion in women’s collegiate golf.

Organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the tournament featured 12 teams competing across 72 holes of stroke play. The University of Tulsa emerged victorious, claiming its first national title in women’s golf, setting a benchmark for future programs.

• Host venue: The championship was hosted at the Albuquerque Country Club, a par-72 course that tested players’ consistency under variable high-desert conditions.
• Winning score: Tulsa finished with a team total of 1,193 (+41), the lowest aggregate score over four rounds.
• Runner-up: Arizona State University placed second with a score of 1,206 (+54), narrowly missing the title by 13 strokes.
• Individual standout: UNLV’s Stephanie Davis finished as the top individual performer, posting a 74-73-74-72=293 (+5), though her team placed third.
• Format: The championship used a four-day, 72-hole stroke play format, with the top four scores from each five-member team counting daily.

How It Works

The NCAA Women's Golf Championship follows a structured format combining team and individual competition, with qualification based on regional performance and at-large selections.

• Term: Team Qualification Teams qualify through regional tournaments held in late April; in 1985, 12 teams advanced based on regional results and selection committee choices.
• Term: Scoring Format The event uses 72 holes of stroke play; the lowest four scores from each five-player team count each day toward the team total.
• Term: Individual Champion While the team title is the focus, an individual champion is also crowned; in 1985, no official individual title was awarded, but stats were tracked.
• Term: Host Selection The NCAA selects the host course years in advance; Albuquerque was chosen for its facilities and climate suitability in May.
• Term: Tiebreakers In case of a tie, the NCAA uses scorecards from the final round, then the last 18, 9, or even hole-by-hole comparison to determine rankings.
• Term: Tournament Duration The championship spans four consecutive days, typically Monday to Thursday, with one 18-hole round played daily.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1985 championship results compared across top finishers highlight the narrow margins in elite collegiate competition.

The tight scoring among the top five teams underscores the competitive depth in women’s collegiate golf by the mid-1980s. Tulsa’s victory was notable not only for its consistency but also for breaking through a field that included powerhouse programs like Arizona State, which had been dominant in prior years. The championship also highlighted the growing geographic diversity of top programs, with teams from Oklahoma, Nevada, California, and North Carolina all placing highly.

Why It Matters

The 1985 NCAA Women's Golf Championship holds lasting significance in the evolution of women’s collegiate athletics, both for its competitive outcomes and broader cultural impact.

• Historic win: Tulsa’s victory marked the first NCAA national title in any women’s sport for the university, elevating its athletic profile nationally.
• Program growth: The win spurred increased funding and recruitment for women’s golf programs across mid-major schools seeking similar success.
• Gender equity: Championships like this helped demonstrate the viability of women’s sports, contributing to Title IX compliance efforts on campuses.
• Media attention: Though broadcast coverage was minimal, the event received coverage in Golfweek and NCAA publications, raising visibility.
• Legacy of players: Several participants went on to play professionally or coach at the collegiate level, extending the championship’s influence.
• Historical benchmark: The 1985 tournament is now referenced in NCAA archives as a turning point for parity in women’s golf beyond traditional powerhouses.

The 1985 championship exemplifies how a single event can shape the trajectory of collegiate sports programs and inspire future generations of female athletes. As women’s golf continues to grow, milestones like Tulsa’s victory remain foundational to its legacy.