Tang, Cressman Represent Navy Against Elite Field at Jackson T. Stephens Cup
Navy women’s golf senior Emma Tang and junior Vivian Cressman tested themselves against one of the strongest fields in college golf this week, representing the Midshipmen as individual competitors at the 2026 Jackson T. Stephens Cup at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas.
Tang led the Navy duo by finishing tied for 27th at 13-over-par 229, while Cressman finished 32nd at 20-over 236. The 54-hole competition was played Monday and Tuesday on the par-72, 6,382-yard Fields Ranch East course and included several of the nation’s premier collegiate golfers.
The opportunity itself was significant for Navy. Tang and Cressman were two of only six individual golfers invited to compete alongside a loaded women’s field that included Stanford, Wake Forest, Florida State, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas. The event also received national television exposure on Golf Channel.
Tang Battles Through Three Rounds
Tang opened the tournament Monday with a 4-over-par 76 before improving by two shots during the second round. Her 2-over 74 left her positioned just outside the top 20 heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes.
The senior finished with a 7-over 79 in the final round, giving her a three-round total of 229. That placed Tang in a tie for 27th with Stanford standout Paula Martín Sampedro, who entered the tournament ranked No. 2 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking and is a three-time WGCA First Team All-American.
Tang’s showing continued a strong opening stretch to her senior season. She previously finished tied for 20th at the Folds of Honor Collegiate with a 3-over 219 after opening that tournament with consecutive rounds of 71.
The senior also entered this season after becoming one of the most decorated golfers in Navy program history. Tang won the 2026 Patriot League individual championship for the second consecutive year while helping Navy capture its third straight conference team championship. She was subsequently named Patriot League Women’s Golfer of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Tang’s performance at the Stephens Cup also represented a substantial improvement over her appearance in the event last season. She finished 33rd at 26-over 236 in 2025 before returning this year and lowering her tournament total by seven strokes.
Cressman Starts Strong in Frisco
Cressman produced one of her strongest rounds immediately after arriving at PGA Frisco. The junior opened with a 2-over-par 74, putting herself in position to compete with some of the best collegiate golfers in the country.
The final two rounds proved more difficult. Cressman posted consecutive 9-over 81s to finish the tournament at 20-over 236 and in 32nd place overall. Despite the difficult finish, her opening round showed her ability to compete on a demanding course against an elite field.
Cressman has developed into another important part of Navy’s championship program. She tied for second at the 2026 Patriot League Championship at 7-over 223 and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors. She was also selected to the Academic All-Patriot League Team following the 2025-26 season.
Her performance at the Stephens Cup followed an 18-over 234 showing at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, where she finished tied for 49th. That means Cressman has already faced two highly competitive national fields during the opening weeks of her junior season.
Elite Competition at PGA Frisco
The women’s individual championship ended in a tie between Texas’ Farah O’Keefe and Wake Forest’s Macy Pate. Both golfers completed 54 holes at 4-under-par 212.
The tournament’s women’s field included defending NCAA champion Stanford along with Wake Forest, Florida State, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas. Tang and Cressman joined individual competitors from Prairie View A&M, Jackson State and Howard as part of the event’s commitment to providing opportunities for golfers representing service academies and HBCUs.
The Stephens Cup carries an additional connection to the Naval Academy. The tournament honors Jackson T. Stephens, the former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and a member of the Naval Academy Class of 1947. Stephens donated $10 million in 2003 toward renovations of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and other Naval Academy projects, and the stadium’s field is named Jack Stephens Field in his honor.
The event concluded Wednesday with South Carolina defeating Wake Forest, 3-1, for the women’s team championship. Texas captured the men’s team championship.
Navy Turns Its Attention to Maryland
Tang and Cressman will now rejoin the rest of the Midshipmen as Navy prepares for an in-state matchup.
Navy is scheduled to host Maryland in match play on Sept. 26 at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club.
The matchup will give Navy another opportunity to test a veteran roster that returned eight golfers from the team that captured the program’s third consecutive Patriot League championship last spring.
MSB Take
Finishing 27th and 32nd may not immediately jump off the leaderboard, but the quality of competition makes the performances by Tang and Cressman much more meaningful. Navy sent two golfers into a tournament filled with athletes from programs that regularly contend for NCAA championships, and both Midshipmen showed stretches where they could compete with that level of talent.
Tang continues to establish herself as the centerpiece of Navy women’s golf. Her 74 during the second round and seven-shot improvement from her 2025 Stephens Cup performance are encouraging signs as she begins her final collegiate season.
Cressman’s opening-round 74 was also impressive. Consistency over all 54 holes will be the next step, but competing in tournaments such as the Stephens Cup provides exactly the type of experience that can help later in the season.
Most importantly for Navy, these early-season tournaments are providing high-level preparation rather than simply easy finishes. The Midshipmen are coming off three consecutive Patriot League championships, and Tang and Cressman are gaining experience against national-caliber competition that should benefit Navy when championship season arrives.
