PALM DESERT, Calif. – After opening the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championships tied for 12th, the 18th-ranked Carleton women's golf team not only made the cut inside the top 15 teams, but climbed one spot to sit 11th following Wednesday's second round at Desert Willow Golf Resort.  The Knights finished just eight-over par (296) for the day and are 26-over for the tournament, just one stroke outside of the top 10.

Carleton, which played the Firecliff course on Wednesday, was led by a career-best round from senior Carter Sichol.  The Winnetka, Ill., native fired a four-under-par 68, besting her previous career low of three-under 69 earlier this fall in a pair of rounds at the MIAC Championships.  Teeing off on the back nine to start the day, Sichol rocketed out of the gate with birdies on three of her first four holes. 

She remained bogey-free through her first nine and added to her score with a birdie on the 498-yard par-five first.  The only blemish her card came in the form of a bogey on the par-four sixth hole, but the senior showed her resilience, coming right back with a birdie on the seventh to close out the 68, which tied for the best round of the day and launched her into a tie for fourth.

Sophomore Anna Lee followed with a strong two-over-par 74.  Lee opened the day on a high note with a birdie on the par-four 10th.  She added another birdie on the par-four fourth and was even-par through 15 holes.  The Vernon Hills, Ill., product used a pair of matching 37s on each nine to secure the two-over round.  Coupled with a four-over 76 yesterday, Lee now sits tied for 39th individually.

Joining Lee in the tie for 39th is junior Mindy Zhai.  Zhai entered the day tied for 18th following a brilliant opening round of one-over-par 73.  On Wednesday, she opened strong and had an even-par round going through the opening 12 holes.  A clean 36 on her first nine gave way to a five-over 41 on the second nine to give her a second-round total of 77 (+5). 

Senior Sarah Zheng joined Zhai with a five-over 77 in her second round, a 11-shot improvement from yesterday's opening round.  Zheng went 39-38 and carded a birdie on each nine to climb 21 spots on the individual leaderboard to sit in a tie for 102nd.  Fellow senior Cynthia Lu posted a 10-over-par 82 on the day, highlighted by a birdie on the par-five first hole.  She is tied for 137th individually through two rounds.

The Knights will be back on the course as one of the final 15 teams remaining in tomorrow's third round.  Carleton's first tee time is set for 7:00am pacific time, 9:00am central.