North Carolina Central University’s women’s golf team made history on Sunday, October 18, winning its first SAS Championship HBCU Invitational title with a commanding 23-stroke victory at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina.
Sophomore Sanaa Carter completed a successful weekend for the Eagles by claiming the individual championship, finishing eight shots clear of her nearest competitors.
NCCU recorded a 36-hole team total of 594, comfortably ahead of runner-up North Carolina A&T at 617. Chicago State finished third at 625.
The result ended a series of near misses for North Carolina Central, which had finished second three times at the event since its launch in 2022.
North Carolina Central Takes Control Early
The Eagles established their advantage during Saturday’s opening round despite weather-related interruptions.
Heavy weather delayed the start of play and forced tournament officials to reduce the originally scheduled 54-hole competition to 36 holes.
Once competition began, NCCU wasted little time taking control.
The Eagles opened with a team score of 296, putting them 17 strokes ahead of South Carolina State, which recorded a 313.
Chicago State and North Carolina A&T followed with opening scores of 318 and 319, respectively.
With the tournament shortened to two rounds, protecting that early advantage became especially important.
NCCU responded with a second-round 298 to finish at 594. North Carolina A&T improved significantly on Sunday, matching the Eagles’ final-round score of 298, but the first-round deficit proved too large to overcome.
The victory was NCCU’s fifth women’s multi-team tournament title since the program began competing in the 2021–22 season.
It was also the Eagles’ first team championship since the 2024 Dortch Jr. HBCU Classic.
Sanaa Carter Claims Second Straight Individual Victory
Carter led NCCU throughout the weekend, delivering two consistent rounds to claim the individual title.
She opened with a one-over-par 71 on Saturday, taking the lead after the opening round.
Another 71 on Sunday brought her total to 142, two over par, and secured an eight-stroke victory.
The performance represented another important step forward for Carter, who had finished third at the same tournament in 2025.
Her victory in Cary also continued an impressive run of form.
In September, Carter won the women’s individual title at the Thomas W. Dortch Jr. HBCU Collegiate Golf Classic in Suwanee, Georgia, with a one-under-par 71 after the second round was canceled because of bad weather.
That result was her first collegiate individual victory. Her win at the SAS HBCU Invitational made it two consecutive tournament titles.
Carter had previously earned HBCU National Women’s Freshman Golfer of the Year recognition, along with HBCU All-America and All-Freshman honors.
Her latest result adds another achievement to a promising collegiate career.
Winford and James Strengthen NCCU’s Championship Performance
Although Carter captured the individual spotlight, North Carolina Central’s victory was built on strong performances throughout its lineup.
Sophomore Cailynn Winford finished tied for second with a two-round total of 150, while junior Tylah James placed fifth at 153.
Freshman Mya Smith added a 156 to finish 11th among 24 competitors.
That gave NCCU three players in the top five of the individual standings, demonstrating the depth behind the team’s decisive victory.
SAS HBCU Invitational 2026 Women’s Team Results
| Position | Team | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Central | 594 |
| 2 | North Carolina A&T | 617 |
| 3 | Chicago State | 625 |
| 4 | South Carolina State | 635 |
| 5 | Delaware State | 716 |
The tournament was staged alongside the PGA Tour Champions’ SAS Championship, giving participating collegiate golfers an opportunity to compete during the same event weekend as established professional players.
Tournament organizers also announced $10,000 honorariums for the winning golf programs in each of the three HBCU Invitational divisions, including the women’s competition.
Why This Championship Matters
For North Carolina Central, the victory represents more than another addition to the program’s trophy collection.
After three runner-up finishes at the SAS HBCU Invitational, the Eagles finally converted their strong performances into a championship.
The result also reinforces the program’s progress since the women’s team began competing in 2021–22.
With Carter and Winford both in their sophomore seasons, NCCU has a developing core that has already demonstrated it can win collegiate tournaments.
The championship provides momentum heading into the final event of the team’s fall schedule.
What’s Next for North Carolina Central?
The Eagles are scheduled to conclude their fall season at the Fripp Island Intercollegiate on October 24–25 in Fripp Island, South Carolina.
After their dominant performance in Cary, NCCU will arrive with renewed confidence and an individual champion who has now won consecutive starts.
For Carter, the next challenge will be maintaining the consistency that has produced two tournament victories in less than a month.
For the Eagles, the SAS HBCU Invitational title marks a significant milestone in the program’s short history.
After years of coming close, North Carolina Central has finally claimed the championship.