Weather is already forcing adjustments at multiple NCAA Division I women’s golf regional sites.
With thunderstorms forecasted in Lubbock, Texas, on Monday, the first round of that 12-team regional will begin on Sunday. Meanwhile, the regional in Norman, Oklahoma, will play 36 holes on Monday in anticipation of storms on Tuesday and Wednesday.
One to two inches of rain are expected in addition to the severe weather on Monday in Lubbock, though conditions are supposed to improve after that. While Sunday’s forecast is dry for much of the day, there will be high winds, from 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts possible.
Texas is the top seed in the Lubbock Regional, followed by Wake Forest, Arizona, Texas A&M and Iowa State.
There is 100% chance of rain in Norman on Tuesday with one to two inches also forecasted there. Wednesday’s forecast calls for scattered showers and a 50% chance of rain.
The top five seeds there are Stanford, Northwestern, North Carolina, Michigan State and Duke. Host Oklahoma is the six seed.
Play cannot extend past Wednesday evening.
Four years ago, the women’s regional in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was controversially scrapped because of heavy rains and unsuitable course conditions, forcing the NCAA to advance teams based on seeding.
The schedules of this week’s other four women’s regionals are unchanged. The top five finishing teams after 54 holes at each of the six sites will advance to the NCAA Championship.
