The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s golf team finished ninth at the NJCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship held at the Ol’ Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The result marked the program’s best finish in its history, surpassing last year’s 15th-place showing, according to team officials.
Two players earned All-American honors. Analeigh Little tied for 16th place, earning All-Tournament and All-American team spots. Bella McNeil finished 18th, securing the final spot on both teams, as confirmed by coach Adam Payne.
Little, a freshman, shot her best round of the tournament on Friday, ending with a 78 for the day and finishing the event at 43-over par. She started strong, recovering from a rough stretch with four bogeys in a row, and finished with a bogey-birdie on the last two holes. “That definitely gave me some more confidence,” Little said. “I was just focusing on one shot at a time.”
McNeil struggled during her round, finishing 14-over for the event. She had several bogeys and double bogeys but closed with solid pars, ending her tournament at 44-over. “It’s good to end on a good note,” McNeil said. “It’s been a rough year, but I’m glad I finished strong.”
Another standout was sophomore Zae’Ja Davis, who shot a career-best 83, breaking 90 for the first time in her collegiate career. Davis, who started with bogeys, rallied to make three pars and a birdie on her final round. Coach Payne praised her effort, calling her the team’s key contributor for the day.
Madison Baker improved on her previous rounds, finishing 68th overall after trimming 11 strokes from her third-day score. Addison Forbes finished with a score of 107, matching her previous day’s total, helping the team secure its ninth-place finish, up six spots from last year. The team outscored Des Moines Area Community College by five strokes, matching their national ranking heading into the tournament.
Looking ahead, Payne expressed optimism about the upcoming 2026-27 season, citing a strong recruiting class and key players moving on. He praised the team’s character and the way they represented the school. “They set the bar for future teams, both in success and how they did it,” Payne said.
For more updates on Northwest women’s golf, visit nwccrangers.com or follow the team’s social media accounts.
