CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Pinky Chaisilprungruang of Charlotte Women’s Golf is set to begin play at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Golf Chapel Hill Regional on Monday (May 11) at the UNC Finley Golf Course. This marks back-to-back years Chaisilprungruang has qualified for the NCAA Regionals as an individual, the second player in program history to do so joining Cecilie Finne-Ipsen (2018-19, 2020-21).
Entering the regional as the top ranked individual (#39), Chaisilprungruang will tee off at 9:50 a.m. on Monday morning paired with Thanana Kotchasanmanee of Princeton (#110) and Victoria Levy of UNCW (#159). Live scoring can be found on Scoreboard and a live stream is available through Babygrande Golf (subscription required).
The course will play as a Par 70 at 6,177 yards.
The NCAA committee selected 72 teams (including automatic qualifiers) and 36 individuals (including automatic qualifiers) not on those teams for participation at one of the six regional sites. Each regional site is comprised of 12 teams and six individuals (not on one of the selected teams). Five teams and the leading individual not on an advancing team from each regional site shall advance to the final site. Regional play will take place May 11-13 at six regional sites, and the national championship tournament will be held from May 22-27 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
“We are very excited for Pinky’s opportunity at NCAA Regionals,” said Head Coach C.C. McMahan. “It is great she is staying in state at Chapel Hill. We are excited to know teammates and fans will be able to come support her. Last year’s NCAA Regional was a good experience for her and this year she will know what to expect in preparation. The UNC Finley Golf Course is a very challenging one, but she will be ready for the moment.”
Last season at the Charlottesville Regional, Pinky tied for 21st shooting a 218 (+5).
“I am very thankful for this opportunity,” said Chaisilprungruang. “While I am here as an individual, I will be playing to make my teammates and Charlotte proud. Go 49ers!”
In April, Chaisilprungruang was named the American Conference Women’s Golfer of the Year and to the All-Conference Team after winning the individual championship by a dominant nine strokes.
This marked back-to-back years Chaisilprungruang has won the award, while also winning the Freshman of the Year in 2024-25.
Chaisilprungruang was named to The ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List which honors the top D1 female golfer. She is the highest ranked individual player in the conference at 39th, with the next highest being Samantha Olson of Tulsa at 153rd. This season, Chaisilprungruang won four individual titles at the Tiger Classic, French Broad Collegiate Invitational, the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate, and the American Conference Championship. In total, she has seven top five finishes and has shot par or better in 21 of the 31 rounds this year with 19 of those rounds being under par.
“There is nobody like Pinky,” said Head Coach C.C. McMahan. “We are all so proud of her, not only for her accomplishments but the way she competes. She has always stayed true to herself and competed in a way that makes herself, our team and Charlotte proud. The influence she has wherever she goes is special. She has matured a great deal on and off the golf course and makes every decision with confidence. She is not afraid of the moment and comes through for her team in the clutch situations. Her smile is contagious and she has made a positive impact on all of us.”
Chapel Hill Regional (12 teams, 6 individuals)
Seed 1 Texas
Seed 2 North Carolina
Seed 3 Mississippi State
Seed 4 Oklahoma State
Seed 5 Kent State
Seed 6 Virginia
Seed 7 Michigan State
Seed 8 NC State
Seed 9 High Point
Seed 10 Furman
Seed 11 Richmond
Seed 12 Howard
Individual 1 Pinky Chaisilprungruang, Charlotte
Individual 2 Thanana Kotchasanmanee, Princeton
Individual 3 Victoria Levy, UNCW
Individual 4 Zoe Duval, Appalachian State
Individual 5 Caroline Patterson, UNC Asheville
Individual 6 Norah Seidl, Montana State