The Colorado Buffaloes women's golf team started the 2026 Big 12 Championship in 14th place, carding a score of 20-over-par. The team struggled on the course, particularly in the latter half of their round, which included a tough stretch of eight over-par holes. Despite their rough start, they are only five strokes away from a top 10 position with two rounds remaining. Houston leads the championship at 3-under, with only two teams finishing the first round below par.

By the Numbers
  • Colorado shot 20-over-par, matching their highest team round of the season.
  • Sophomore Ellen O'Shaughnessy led the team with a score of 74, placing her tied for 23rd.
Yes, But

Coach Madeleine Sheils acknowledged the team鈥檚 frustration after encountering unexpected difficulties and emphasized their potential to play much better in the next rounds.

State of Play
  • Only three teams are in the top 10, and Colorado is just five shots away from that position.
  • Houston鈥檚 Natalie Saint Germain leads individually with a score of 69.
What's Next

Colorado will aim to improve during the second round, teeing off with Kansas State at 7 a.m. MT, looking to close the gap on the teams ahead.

Bottom Line

The Buffaloes need to regain their composure and capitalize on their skills to recover from this challenging start, as they possess the potential to significantly improve their standing in the upcoming rounds.