CARSON CITY (Aug. 16, 2026)–The teams of Laura Marinai-Sylvia Gregorie (Gross) and Susan Hood-April Higuera (Net) won titles in the 2026 Women’s Team Series at Empire Ranch. The one-day Nevada Golf Northern Region tournament was held Aug. 16, 2026, at Empire Golf Club on the Sierra and River nines.–by Bill Bowman
The tournament featured a four-ball Stableford format. Teams earned eight points for a hole-in-one as well as a double eagle, six points for an eagle, three points for a birdie and two points for a par. Teams received zero points for a bogey or worse.
Gross
Laura Marinai and teammate Sylvia Gregorie each had a birdie on the back nine in helping the team win the Gross title.
“Sylvia started it out with a nice birdie on No. 10,” Marinai said. “That gave us momentum starting out the back nine. Then the last three holes we thought we probably had to make something happen to have a chance and we finished birdie, par, par so that was good.”
Marinai added playing the course at Empire was also a key.
“We hadn’t played the course before so there was no negative energy for us,” she said. “It’s also been pretty hot and today it finally cooled off a little.”
In the end, Marinai said teamwork was the key.
“It’s our first win in this event,” she said. “We play other events and invitationals and have done well. We know each other’s game and just go out wanting to have fun.”
Gross
Marinai/Gregoire, 24 points
Smith-Hytner/Pearlman, 22
Walsh-Vineyard, 4
Net
Susan Hood and April Higuera posted eight net birdies in winning the Net Division in a scorecard playoff.
It was their second win of the season as they won a gross title in the first event of the year.
“We’ve only played in two so to have two wins is nice,” Higuera said. “We ham-and-egged it pretty well. I had trouble on the par 3s and Susan didn’t. Then I did OK on the longer holes. We helped each other a lot. I also had seven one-putts so that was a boost for us.”
Higuera added the main focus for the duo is to enjoy the time on the course.
“We’re just out there having fun,” she said. “We’re good friends and enjoy playing together. But just getting out on the course and competing is a lot of fun.”
Net
x-Hood/Higuera, 46 points
Evans/Wharton, 46
Layman/Erickson, 34
x-Won scorecard playoff
