A Front-Row Look at the 2026 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and Elite Women’s College Golf
A guide to one of collegiate golf’s most anticipated events for world-class competition and an unforgettable spectator experience.
Story by Lance Hanlin
By the time the final groups turn toward the closing stretch at Long Cove Club, the galleries have settled in. Footsteps quiet. Conversations drop to whispers. Every swing matters. Each March, moments like these put Hilton Head Island squarely at the center of the women’s collegiate golf world, and 2026 will be no different.
The Darius Rucker Intercollegiate returns March 2-4, bringing one of the deepest fields in college golf to a course most fans only ever see from a distance. With national television coverage, free admission and a layout that invites spectators to walk alongside the game’s rising stars, it is easy to understand why this tournament has become a favorite for both players and fans.
This is not just another stop on the college golf calendar. Since making its live debut on Golf Channel in 2022, the event has been the only all-women’s regular-season collegiate golf tournament televised live in the United States. That exposure has raised the stakes, sharpened the competition and helped turn three days at Long Cove into one of the most closely watched collegiate events of the spring.
Team flags line the clubhouse at Long Cove Club during last year’s Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The women’s collegiate golf showcase returns March 2-4, welcoming 17 of the nation’s top-ranked teams. Tentative tee times are 9:20-11:40 a.m. each day. ©Long Cove Club
Spectators watch the action on the 18th hole during last year’s Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club. This year’s event (March 2-4) is free to attend, giving golf fans a rare chance to watch the nation’s top collegiate players compete on an iconic course typically reserved for members. ©Long Cove Club
Experience the excitement
For locals the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate offers a rare opportunity to experience elite golf up close on a private course that typically sits behind the gates. Admission is free, with all spectator parking located at Central Church (975 William Hilton Parkway), directly across from the Long Cove entrance. Parking is complimentary, and free shuttles run continuously between the lot and the course. For safety reasons, walking across U.S. 278 is not permitted.
Tentative tee times are 9:20-11:40 a.m. each day but are subject to change. On-course food and drink is available for purchase between the 1st and 10th tee along with a seating area.
Those who cannot attend in person can still follow every key moment. Live national coverage on Golf Channel brings Long Cove’s fairways, greens and finishing holes to viewers across the country.
A field built for drama
The 2026 lineup reads like a who’s who of women’s collegiate golf. Seventeen teams are scheduled to compete, including Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Arizona, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Northwestern, Ohio State, South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
Recent history suggests another wide-open race. In 2025 LSU and South Carolina finished tied atop the leaderboard, with LSU claiming the team title in a tiebreak. Individually, Arkansas’ Kendall Todd and South Carolina’s Louise Rydqvist shared medalist honors at 212, 1 under par. They were the only players in the field to finish the 54-hole event in red numbers, a clear reminder of how demanding Long Cove can be.
That kind of parity is what makes following the tournament on the ground so compelling. Momentum can shift quickly, and even late leads feel fragile. Every hole asks a question, and not every answer comes easily.
A course made for spectating
Currently ranked No. 20 in Golfweek’s Top 200 Residential Courses in the United States, Long Cove Club offers a rare chance to walk a nationally acclaimed Pete Dye design typically reserved for members. The course does not overpower players, but it rarely gives anything away.
For spectators the routing is friendly, and the sight lines are strong. The drama builds naturally as groups work their way toward the clubhouse. Popular viewing spots include the par 3s at Nos. 2, 8, 13 and 17, where wind and pin placement can quickly flip a leaderboard. The finishing stretch at Nos. 16, 17 and 18 rewards patience and precision and often decides the tournament late in the day.
Green complexes throughout the course provide a close look at the creativity and touch that separate good rounds from great ones. Comfortable shoes are recommended, but the course is walkable, shaded in places and easy to navigate, even if you follow one group before moving on to the next.
A Lowcountry tradition
Founded in 2012, the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate has grown from a respected college tournament into one of the most anticipated events on the women’s collegiate golf calendar. In partnership with South Carolina native and musician Darius Rucker, the tournament blends elite competition with a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the Lowcountry’s appreciation for both hospitality and high-level sport.
More than a decade in, the event continues to deliver close finishes, national attention and a rare level of access for fans. For Hilton Head Island it has become a March tradition that opens the gates, invites the public inside the ropes and offers a clear look at the future of women’s golf.
Golfers to follow
From seasoned All-Americans to rising stars with championship credentials, this year’s field is stacked with players capable of taking control at Long Cove. These five golfers bring proven resumes, steady nerves and games well suited to a course that rewards precision and patience.
Eila Galitsky (South Carolina)
Galitsky has quickly established herself as one of the most reliable players in collegiate golf. An All-American and consistent top finisher for the Gamecocks, she pairs length off the tee with a calm short game that fits Long Cove’s strategic demands.
María José Marín (Arkansas)
Marín arrives with one of the strongest resumes in the field. The 2025 NCAA Individual Champion and SEC Player of the Year, she has consistently proven her ability to separate herself from elite competition. When Marín tees it up, she is always a contender.
Farah O’Keefe (Texas)
O’Keefe brings steadiness and experience to a deep Texas lineup, leaning on smart course management and a mistake-free approach. She keeps steady pressure on the field and often climbs leaderboards quietly, making her a smart player to track over all three days.
Anna Davis (Auburn)
Davis rose to prominence with her 2022 victory at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history. Now at Auburn, she brings big-stage experience and a poised, confident game to the field.
Patience Rhodes (Arizona State)
Rhodes adds international experience and depth to an Arizona State team that is always a contender in elite fields. She has shown a knack for handling pressure and grinding out scores, qualities that often matter most late in this event.
