TULSA, Okla. — Fourth-year Sydney Kincade carded a 1-over 72 on Tuesday to vault into the top five, propelling the Harding women's golf team into third place at the NSU Women's Classic at Page Belcher Golf Course's Stone Creek layout.
Competing in their second tournament of the fall season, the Lady Bisons improved six strokes in Tuesday's final round, posting a 14-over 298—the second-lowest team round in the entire 12-team field. Harding finished the 36-hole tournament at 34-over 602 (304-298), jumping past Oklahoma Baptist into third place.
Rogers State captured the team title at 22-over 590 (297-293), edging runner-up Southeastern Oklahoma State (298-296—594) by four strokes. Harding followed in third (602), finishing three strokes ahead of fourth-place Oklahoma Baptist (301-304—605). Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the top five at 43-over 611.
The third-place showing continues a remarkable run of success for Harding at the NSU Classic. The Lady Bisons have now finished third or better at the event in four consecutive seasons (runner-up in 2023, third in 2024, third in 2025, third in 2026) and have placed inside the top four in six consecutive appearances dating back to 2019. Harding also previously took third in 2012.
Kincade paced the Lady Bisons on Tuesday with one of the finest rounds of the day. Her 1-over 72 vaulted her six spots up the individual leaderboard into a tie for fourth place at 5-over 147 (75-72), securing the third top-five finish of her collegiate career. Kincade was dialed in across all 36 holes, tying for the tournament lead in par-3 scoring (even-par 3.00) and tying for third in total pars with 27.
Second-year Macy Cooper secured her first career collegiate top-10 finish, backing up Monday's career-low 74 with a 4-over 75 on Tuesday. Cooper tied for eighth at 7-over 149 (74-75) and matched tournament co-runner-up Lauren Anderson of Rogers State for the field lead in total pars with 28.
Second-year Vivian Volion provided a major spark Tuesday, bouncing back from an opening-round 81 with a 2-over 73 to jump 20 spots into a tie for 18th place at 12-over 154 (81-73). Volion tied for sixth in the 68-player field with 24 pars.
Second-year Alyson Thomas finished tied for 25th at 15-over 157 (74-83), while 4th-year Cooper Meyer tied for 35th at 17-over 159 (81-78). Meyer tied for second in the tournament with seven total birdies.
As a unit, Harding displayed exceptional ball control all week, leading the entire field in total bogeys avoided by carding a tournament-low 38 bogeys across 36 holes. The Lady Bisons also ranked second in total pars (113), second in par-3 scoring average (3.30, +15), and tied for second in par-4 scoring average (4.22, +20).
Morgan Simmons of Oklahoma Baptist claimed individual medalist honors at even-par 142 (68-74), holding off Rogers State's Lauren Anderson (+3) and Southeastern Oklahoma State's Karen Kim (+3) by three strokes.
Harding returns to competition Oct. 11–12 when it travels to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the Battle for the Belt at Hot Springs Country Club.
