Little Rock took the lead on Apr. 19 in the opening round of the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championship, finishing with a team score of 311 (+23) at Dalton Golf and Country Club.
The event marks an important start for Little Rock as they defend their title, setting themselves apart early in a challenging field. The Trojans placed several golfers near the top of the leaderboard, demonstrating strong performances across their lineup.
Head coach Jenna Birch said, “I’m really proud of how we competed today. This course demanded patience, especially with the conditions early, and I thought we stayed disciplined and gave ourselves opportunities throughout the round.” Eleonore Aernouts and Cloe Poizac each shot a 76 (+4), tying for first place after 18 holes. Both golfers posted consistent scores with matching front and back nine totals.
Aernouts said, “I felt like I stayed really patient out there today. The conditions were a little tricky early, but I just tried to play smart, hit fairways and greens, and not force anything. It’s nice to be in this position, but the focus is on staying consistent and helping the team keep the lead.” Birch added praise for her players: “I thought Eleonore and Cloe did a great job staying patient and trusting their game plans. They didn’t try to do too much and let the round come to them.”
Fehild Graesel contributed with a score of 78 (+6), placing her tied for fourth overall. Iara Martin finished with an 81 (+9) tied for eleventh place while Elvira Flodstrom’s score of 84 (+12) left her tied for seventeenth among competitors.
Birch said consistency was key: “I think the biggest thing was our consistency from top to bottom. In this format, it takes everyone, and we had contributions across the lineup to put ourselves in a strong position.” Little Rock will continue play Monday morning as they look to maintain or extend their lead over teams including Morehead State (322), Tennessee Tech (323), Lindenwood (332), Southern Indiana (334), Bryant (338), Tennessee State (350), Eastern Illinois (351) and Western Illinois (355).
The championship continues into its second round as Little Rock aims to build on its advantage.
