PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A new independent NCAA Division III women's golf conference has been formed; the Northeast Women's Golf Conference (NWGC) has been approved by the NCAA Membership Committee. 

The conference will hold its inaugural championship on Sunday, April 28 at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield, Massachusetts. 

Making up the conference will be Husson, Johnson & Wales, Keuka, Nazareth, Suffolk, SUNY Canton, SUNY Cortland, St. John Fisher, Utica and Westfield State. Johnson & Wales Associate Athletics Director Michael Smoose will serve as the league's commissioners. 

Originally all the schools were core or affiliate members in the Empire 8 Conference. As an independent sport conference, the NWGC only needs seven members to apply for an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Championship. 

Starting with the 2019-20 season, the conference championship will be a two-day event held in fall.