BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Augustana University, winners of nine of the last ten NSIC Championships, was picked to win the NSIC in the preseason women's golf coaches' poll. The Vikings received six first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and tallied 136 points, six ahead of second place Sioux Falls. The Cougars amassed 130 points and five first place votes. The defending NSIC Champions (2019) of Minnesota State received two first place votes and 120 points to rank third.  

Sioux Falls senior Lexi Hanson was voted by the league coaches at the NSIC Women's Golf Preseason Golfer of the Year. She is a two-time NCAA DII regional qualifier and All-NSIC selection.  She owns two career titles and registered a program-best round of 67 on day two of the MIAA Preview in fall of 2019. The five-time NSIC Golfer of the Week, led the NSIC with a 74.5 stroke average over 12 rounds during the 2019-20 season. 

The 2020-21 NSIC women's golf schedule will commence in March. The three-round NSIC Women’s' Golf Championship will take place on April 23-25 at Dacotah Ridge in Morton, Minnesota. 

• Became USF's second-ever two-time NCAA DII regional qualifier 
• Twice selected to the All-NSIC squad
• Owns two career titles
• Registered a program-best round of 67 on day two of the MIAA Preview last fall 
• Has accumulated five NSIC Athlete of the Week honors
• Totaled 16 top-10, 22 top-20 and won two individual titles

PRESEASON PREVIEWS & GOLFERS TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

After winning four of seven team events in 2019-20, the 2020-21 Augustana women’s golf team brings in a roster of nine athletes, three freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors, for the spring season. The Vikings also return their lead golfer in now-senior Alex Stone. The two-time All-NSIC golfer placed first in three-of-seven events during the 2019-20 season en route to NSIC Golfer of the Week honors twice and 75.67 average strokes per round. Fellow senior Natalie Young also returns to Augustana after a 2019-20 campaign in which she averaged 79.27 strokes per round with one top-five finish. 

Juniors Kait Asklund (84.54 strokes per round) and Hanna Morin (84.17 strokes per round) and sophomore Molly Stevens (78.90 strokes per round with two top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes) fill out the Viking returners.  Sophomore Sophia Salter (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and freshmen Rachel Halvorson (Madison, Minn.), Rachel Schwarz (Marshall, Minn.) and Lauren Tims (Sioux Falls, S.D.) will debut for the Vikings in 2020-21. 

Augustana is also under the leadership of interim head coach Coralee Jorgensen as she took over for the now-retired Peggy Kirby. Jorgensen spent eight seasons as an assistant under Kirby. 

Prior to the NSIC Championships starting on April 23 in Morton, Minnesota, the Vikings will compete in five regular-season spring events. The season gets underway on March 22 in Warrensburg, Missouri, at the Midwest Intercollegiate Invitational followed by the MWSU Holiday Inn Express Invitational on March 29 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Next up is the Newman Invite on April 6 in Newton, Kansas followed by the Wayne State College Invitational on April 11 in Wayne, Nebraska. The Vikings finish the regular season by hosting the Augustana Spring Invite on April 17 at home in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

• Played in all seven events totaling 15 rounds and was named NSIC Player of the Week two times
• Shot a 69 for her lowest round of golf and averaged of 75.67 on the season
• Won individual honors in three events had, had one top five finish and three top twelve finishes
• Had a two round score of 144 (E) to place first at the Golden Bear Classic

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

The Bemidji State University women’s golf team returns six letterwinners from the 2019-20 season and had its 2020 fall season canceled due to COVID-19. Bemidji State’s Preseason Player to Watch is senior Lauren Stockmoe who returns for her senior season after putting together an 84.3 scoring average to finish fourth on the team in 10 rounds and five events in 2019-20. She is joined by her twin sister Elise Stockmoe as the lone two seniors on the team and she finished sixth on the team with an 87.2 scoring average in 10 rounds and five events last season. The Beavers have added two freshmen to the squad in Mollie Albrecht and Maddy Sawyer.  

• Competed in five events and 10 rounds for the Beavers during her junior campaign
• Finished the season with an 84.3 scoring average 
• Shot a career-low round of 163 (82-81) at the Golden Bear Classic
• Shot 164 (79-85) at the Ramada Mustang Invite, Sept. 21-22

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

Coming off an abrupt end to the 2020 Spring season, the Golden Bears are eager to get back on the course and pick up where they left off. CSP started off the 2019 Fall season with a solid showing at the Tracy Lane Memorial hosted by Bemidji State, taking third place out of the ten teams in attendance. They also fared well at the Golden Bear Classic, landing in sixth out of 14 teams. In their lone spring appearance at the Warrior Vegas Invite, the Bears grabbed fifth place out of ten teams. The golfer to watch for CSP this season will be senior Erika Olson. Last season, Olson played in 12 rounds for the Golden Bears, averaging 83.92 strokes per round. The senior played her best tournament of the season at the Golden Bear Classic, shooting a 164 (+20) in 36 holes. Including Olson, this year’s team will bring back five returners including two seniors, one junior, and two sophomores while also welcoming three new freshmen to the squad. The team will open their season at the Hillcat Classic hosted by Rogers State (Okla.) on March 15 and 16.

• Played in 12 rounds for the Golden Bears, averaging 83.92 strokes per round
• Played her best tournament of the season at the Golden Bear Classic, shooting a 164 (+20) in 36 holes
• In 2018-19 she played 19 rounds for the Golden Bears, averaging 81.47 strokes per round

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

The University of Mary women’s golf team returns to the NCAA after a 12-year hiatus from competition. Michael Herzog, a four-time collegiate coach of the year and a former NCAA Division I golfer and coach, will look to lead the UMary women’s golf program to greater heights. During his four-year tenure as head coach at Bismarck State College (BSC) from 2013 to 2017, Herzog led the Mystics men’s and women’s golf teams to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championships. During that span, Herzog was a three-time NJCAA Regional Women’s Coach of the Year and a one-time Regional Men’s Coach of the Year.

Julia Bagnell joins the Marauders as an assistant coach after competing for the Idaho State University (ISU) women’s golf team from 2009 to 2013. As a volunteer coach for her alma mater in 2016, she helped lead the Bengals at the Big Sky Conference Championships.

Freshman Kaleigh Carmichael was named the Marauders Player to Watch for women’s golf.  Fellow freshmen Anna Graveline, Sarah Helmuth, Alli Hulst have been brought in to bolster the Marauders lineup. 

Also joining UMary is junior Cassandra Johnson and sophomore Bernadette Barringer. Barringer transfers from Texas Lutheran University. She finished tied for 24th at the Trinity University Alamo City Classic.

• Her tournament score average was 77.86
• 2019 North Dakota Golf Association Junior State Champion
• Finished third in the high school North Dakota State Championship 

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

The Golden Eagle women's golf team is looking to show continued improvement on the 2021 season. UMN Crookston had an average of 404.4 on the 2019-20 season. The Golden Eagles return Peyton Hennen (So., Morris, Minn.), who averaged a 100.6 last season. Abby Stender (Jr., Madison, Minn.), will be a key addition to the Golden Eagles after averaging in the 80's through most of her junior college career at Iowa Lakes Community College. UMN Crookston also returns Madi Andring (So., Hawley, Minn.) and Marlee Steffes (Sr., Fertile, Minn.). The Golden Eagles also have several freshmen who will look to compete for the Golden Eagles in Ciera Kotaska (Fr., Thief River Falls, Minn.), Tiffany Kozojed (Fr., Hillsboro, N.D.), Lachlan Larson (Fr., Pequot Lakes, Minn.), and Ellen Solem (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.). 

• Competed the last two seasons for Iowa Lakes C.C., in Estherville, Iowa
• Led the Lakers with a Top 15 finish at TPC Deere Run with rounds of 95 and 89
• Led Iowa Lakes C.C. to a second-place finish at the Red Tail Shootout by tying for second with an 85
• Had her best round of the season by shooting 79 at the North Iowa Area Community College Fall

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

The reigning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champions, Minnesota State is under the guidance of first-year head coach Bailey Gerdes. Gerdes, a former member of the St. Cloud State women’s golf program, will look for veteran leadership from three stalwarts with NCAA regional tournament experience.

Senior Alissa Carlson led the Mavericks with a 79.3 average in 2019-12.  Carlson posted a second-place finish at the 2018-19 NSIC tournament and her eighth-place finish at the NCAA regional earned her a trip to the national tournament where she finished 52nd.

Senior Maddy Messin, who posted a fourth-place finish at the 2018-19 NSIC tourney, averaged 80.7 in 2019-20. Junior Faith Krause, who was 19th at the 2018-19 NSIC tournament and averaged 80.7 in 12 rounds in 2019-20.

Other returnees include junior Megan Koch (85.0) and sophomores Madi Mcginty (81.2), Sam Soulier (83.8) and Crystal Cariveau (88.0). Newcomers include freshmen Anna Cihak (Detroit Lakes, Minn.), Delaney Conrad (Gowrie, Iowa) and Ava Wallerich (Lake City, Minn.)

The Mavericks begin the 2020-21 campaign March 22-23 at the Central Missouri Invitational.

• Played in 14 rounds for the Mavericks as a junior and averaged 80.1 for the year
• Shot a career-low 75 in the Central Region Fall Preview
• Tied for seventh at the Ramada Mustang Invite (76-79=155)
• Averaged 84.1 as a sophomore over 11 rounds

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

MSUM returns three starters from a year ago, led by sophomore Meghan McBride, who led the team with an 88.1 stroke average. Junior Olivia Koskela is the team's most experienced player returning; she's played in every match for the Dragons the past two seasons and averaged 92.2 strokes per round a year ago. Sophomore Madison Braun played in every event last year and averaged 92.0.  Sophomores Callie Krause and Leah Kendall each played in four events in 2019-20.

• Played 12 rounds with a season best score of 83 on day one of the SMSU Spring Invite
• Finished first on the team with an 88.5 stroke average

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

The Minot State women’s golf features a mostly new roster after the 2020 team hit its stride prior to the cancellation of the remainder of the season. The Beavers won their last two tournaments finishing +34 and in first place in the Minot State University 6th Annual MJGA Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. Then went on to win what turned out to be the final tournament of the season at the Winona State Warriors Vegas Invite with a +53 score which was good for first place as well. 

The Beavers feature three first years and two transfers joining the roster. Juniors Anya Ross and Kaitlynn Criswell are the only returners from the 2020 team that went on such a successful run to end the season. 

Ross and Criswell’s experience at the NCAA level and in big time tournaments will be invaluable to the new faces on the Beavers team. Criswell’s top performance saw her finish in 5th-place at the MJGA Invitational and Ross has two seasons of growth added to her game after her first couple years in the program. 

MSU had it’s fall season canceled and took advantage of the opportunity to practice and bond as a team with eyes set on a spring season and warmer weather. 

• Finished First at the Newfoundland Labrador Junior Provincials the past three years
• Won the 2018 Future Links National Skills Competition
• Received Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Junior Female Golfer of the Year Award the past four years

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

The University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team has been picked to finish in second in the league, according to NSIC Coaches Preseason Poll. The Cougars, which will be led by Preseason Player of the Year Lexi Hanson, earned its highest preseason ranking ever in the NSIC. Hanson who has qualified for two NCAA DII Regional tournaments and earned All-NSIC honors twice, had a league-best 74.50 scoring average which is better than all other returning players in the league by two shots per round.  She placed in the top-10 four times, top-5 twice and won two titles before the CoVID-19 pandemic ended USF’s 2019-20 season. With a 78.46 career scoring average, Hanson has 16 top-10, nine top-five, 22 top-20 and two individual titles. The 2021 squad, which will be directed by second-year head coach Tavia Rutherford, returns its entire starting lineup, including three of the 10 players in the NSIC scoring average. Seniors Sydney Hubbard, Alex Nutter, Kyeligh Moran, and Lexi Jonas are joined by sophomore standouts Maggie Veenendall and Annie Balduzzi on a team that finished in the top two four times with a title at the Augustana Invite in 2019-20. Hubbard, who had two top-10 finishes last year and four in her career, ranked second on USF and eighth in the NSIC with a 79.00 scoring average. Veendahl was third on USF and 10th in the league at 79.42 followed by Jonas at 79.58 whose was 11th in the NSIC. Balduzzi at 80.60 was 17th in the NSIC and Moran with 80.60 and Nutter, who has five top-10 placements, at 81.25, 18th in the NSIC. Jonas had three-top-10 finishes a year ago with her first career title (Augustana Invite).  Veenendall, Balduzzi and Moran all had one top-10 finish a year ago when USF combined to average 309.9 per game on 12 rounds, which ranked second in the NSIC, with a best round of 288 at the MIAA Fall Preview in September and seven rounds of 310 or lower.

• Became USF's second-ever two-time NCAA DII regional qualifier 
• Twice selected to the All-NSIC squad
• Owns two career titles
• Registered a program-best round of 67 on day two of the MIAA Preview last fall 
• Has accumulated five NSIC Athlete of the Week honors
• Totaled 16 top-10, 22 top-20 and won two individual titles

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY 

SMSU head coach Ross Webskowski—entering his 17th season—returns six letter winners, including one senior, one junior, four sophomores, while welcoming in three true freshmen to the 2021 roster. The Mustangs will compete in four events this spring before competing in the NSIC Championships on April 23-25.

 Senior Hannah Kohls is the team’s top returning letter winner after recording an average of 79.4 in 13 rounds. The stroke average would be a school single-season record if she would’ve reached the 15-round minimum. Kohls tied a program single-round record with a 1-under 71 to earn medalist honors at 2020 SMSU Spring Challenge. Kohls’ 82.3 career stroke average in 50 rounds ranks fourth in program history. 

Junior Anneke Weg, who missed time last season with an injury, returns after averaging 84.4 in nine rounds last season. Sophomore Courtni Frank averaged 85.5 in 13 rounds, while sophomore Sally Gallagher also played in 13 rounds and averaged 86.8. Sophomores Natalie Bohnert and Sydney Noel also returning after gaining valuable experience playing in all 13 rounds during their rookie seasons. 

During his 16 seasons as head coach, Webskowksi has led SMSU to a pair of NSIC championships and six NCAA region tournaments.

SMSU opens the 2021 spring season on March 15-16 at the College of the Ozarks Invite in Hollister, Mo. 

• Has led the team in scoring the past two seasons, including 79.4 in 13 rounds in 2019-20
• Tied school record with 1-under 71 to win the 2020 SMSU Spring Challenge
• Ranks fourth in team history with 82.3 stroke average in 50 rounds
• Academic All-NSIC honoree

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

The Peacock women’s golf team is anxious to get onto the short grass again this spring. The team hasn’t played a competitive round since Oct. 8, 2019. Upper Iowa competed in eight rounds in the fall of 2019 at four separate tournaments across the Midwest. The team returns the majority of last year’s scoring lineup including NSIC Golfer to Watch MacKayla Olsen. Olsen finished in the top-20 in all four events in fall 2019 including a pair of top-five finishes. Olsen placed fifth at the Marshall Golf Club in Marshall, Minn. and then tied for fourth in the final action of the fall at Mules National in Warrensburg, Mo. The Stewartville, Minn. product posted a stroke average of 76.5 during the eight rounds to lead the Peacocks. Jaden Schweinefus, Molly Wenthold and Brooke Knutson also return for the Peacocks this spring.

• Played in all six rounds and averaged a team-low 77.5 
• Carded a career-low round of 73
• Named NSIC women's golf of the week during the first week of October
• In 2018-19 played in all 14 rounds and averaged 83.2 and carded a low round of 78

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

The Wayne State College women’s golf program returns to play this season in the NSIC after the program was suspended at the end of the 2012-13 season.  Head coach Joey Baldwin, a former Wildcat golfer and baseball player, will lead the Wildcat program.  He starts the 2021 spring season with a young roster of five players – one sophomore and four freshmen.  Despite the youthful roster, Baldwin has set high expectations for the Wildcat program and has a goal of competing for conference championships for Wayne State College.  The lone sophomore on the team in Paige Peters from Bancroft, Neb., a three-time state medal winner.  The remaining four players are freshmen – Tricia Hemann of Chanhassen, Minnesota, Sophie Jansa from Sioux Falls, S.D., Abbey Kurmel of Okemos, Michigan, and Jazmine Taylor of Millard North in Omaha – have won numerous state titles and medals and will carry over that experience to the collegiate level and look to make Wayne State competitive immediately in the Northern Sun Conference.  Wayne State is scheduled to open the spring season in Litchfield, Arizona at the Southwest Minnesota State Spring Invite on March 6th and will host the WSC Wildcat Invitational at the Wayne Country Club on Sunday and Monday April 11-12th. 

• Four year Class A state qualifier at Millard North HS
• Two-time Class A state medal winner
• Set school record with 36 medals in four years
• All-Metro Conference First Team as a junior and senior

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Head women’s golf coach Tiffanie Yabut and her Warrior team will take on the 2021 spring season with a significant stockpile of new talent from strong recruiting efforts over the past year and a half.  Last season highlights for Winona State includes a dual win over Viterbo University on Sept. 29 and a pair of fourth place finishes at the Tracy Lane Memorial and SMSU Mustang Invite, respectively. 

Winona State will feature six freshman and three sophomores in their lineup, on a squad of 11 student-athletes.  In addition, Coach Yabut will rely on juniors Alexis Bell (Wahpeton, N.D) and Ally Loiselle (Shakopee, Minn.) to lead the group. 

As a team, WSU will look to replicate some of the low rounds achieved by past Warrior squads, such as the 320 carded in the Warrior Vegas Invitational on March 12, 2018 and 322 earned at the Tracy Lane Memorial on Sept. 11, 2017. The best NSIC Women’s Golf Championship score achieved in recent years was a 323 earned in April of 2019. 

The 2021 campaign will start for the Warriors in Warrensburg, Mo., as Winona State will attend the Midwest Intercollegiate Invitational, hosted by the University of Central Missouri at the Mules National Golf Club.  WSU returns to the Show Me state for MWSU Holiday Inn Express Invitational on March 29-30.  

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament is scheduled for April 23-25 at Morton, Minn. Teams competing in that event will look to qualify for the NCAA Regional Tournament on May 3-5. 

• Led Winona State with a 81.6 stroke average over 13 rounds 
• Ranked in the top 20 averages in the NSIC last year 
• Had one top five and two top 10 finishes last season
• Shot a low round of 76 as a freshman