HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The Harding women’s golf team secured its best finish of the season Monday at the Battle for the Belt, hosted by Henderson State University at the Hot Springs Country Club. Though the Lady Bisons narrowly missed capturing the wrestling-style championship belt awarded to the winner, their runner-up finish marks the program’s best result through three tournaments this fall.
Harding finished in second place out of 11 teams, shooting a 43-over 907 (300-304-303) over the 54-hole event contested on the par-72, 5,917-yard course. The 907 total stands as the second-best 54-hole score in program history, trailing only an 889 shot at the 2025 NCAA Central Regional.
The Lady Bisons’ success was driven by a historically strong performance from their top players, as three golfers finished in the top 10 for the first time since the 2024 Arkansas Collegiate.
Senior Pilar Martinez led the way, carding a 2-over 74 in the final round to finish tied for fourth at 7-over 223. This 54-hole score is a career-best for Martinez and ties for the fifth-best in program history. It marks her fifth career top-five finish.
Junior Sydney Kincade followed closely, shooting 3-over 75 to secure seventh place overall at 9-over 225, earning her seventh career top-10 finish. Freshman Vivian Volion completed the trio, tying for eighth place at 10-over 226, her second top-10 in three events this season. Volion’s stellar play included leading the entire tournament with a 1-under score on par 3s and recording a tournament-high 38 pars.
Henderson State won the event, claiming the championship belt with a 31-over 895, while UT Dallas finished third at 48-over 912.
Elsewhere for Harding, junior Cooper Meyer shot a 5-over 77 in the third round to jump five spots and finish 19th overall at a career-best 54-hole score of 17-over 233. Sophomore Sidney Gainor finished 42nd at 29-over 245. Freshman Macy Cooper, playing as an individual, finished 39th at 28-over 244.
Harding’s next outing is Oct. 20-21 at the Super Regional Preview, hosted by Missouri Western at St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, Missouri.