In its final tournament before the Big Ten championships, the Northwestern women’s golf team competes in the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational this weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

Led by Karen England’s seventh-place finish, the Wildcats took third at last year’s Buckeye. Ohio State ran away with its own tournament, firing a 943 to best runner-up Purdue by 22 strokes and NU by 24.

The field at the Buckeye consists of six Big Ten teams and serves as one last preview before the conference championships next week in Madison, Wis.

Last weekend, the Cats took third at the Hawkeye Invitational, behind Emily Gilley and Kristen Beystehner, who finished tied for fourth.

NU is seeking its first-ever NCAA bid this season. In the Midwest District standings, the Cats sit in fourth, behind Purdue, Michigan State and Indiana and in front of Ohio State.

The Midwest District standings determine which teams earn bids to the NCAA regionals, and the top five teams receive invitations.

Ohio State will also host the regionals on its Scarlet Course, the same layout NU will play at this weekend’s Buckeye.