2023-24 NSIC Women's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll

8/23/2023 10:00:00 AM

AUGUSTANA TOPS NSIC WOMEN'S GOLF PRESEASON POLL

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BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Augustana University, winners of 12 of the last 13 NSIC Championships, was picked to win the league in the preseason women's golf coaches' poll. The Vikings received 11 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and tallied 121 points, 23 points ahead of second place Winona State. The Warriors amassed 98 points and the other first place vote, while Wayne State was third with 95 points. 

Augustana's Molly Stevens was voted by the league coaches as the preseason golfer of the year for the second straight year.  Stevens was the 2021-22 & 2022-23 NSIC Golfer of the Year as she led the NSIC in stroke average the past two seasons . She earned three first place finishes, eight top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes this past season. 

The 2023-24 NSIC Women's Golf schedule begins on August 28, while the three-round NSIC Women’s Golf Championship will take place next spring on April 26-28 at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri.

PRESEASON GOLFER OF THE YEAR

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Molly Stevens (Sr., Northfield, Minn. / Northfield HS) - Augustana University
  • 2021-22 & 2022-23 NSIC Golfer of the Year
  • Led the NSIC with a 75.6 stroke average in 2022-23
  • Three-time  All-NSIC First Team performer
  • Claimed three victories on the season
  • Shot a season-low 69 at the Central Region Fall Preview
  • Placed runner-up at the NSIC Championships last season
  • Placed in a tie for seventh at the NCAA Central Regional
Molly has been a self-motivated player for the past 4 years. She has high goals and every year, the goals get a bit higher! Her summer has been a regiment of workouts, practicing, and playing in competitive events. She is ready and excited for the first tee shot to be hit.
Director of Golf Coralee Jorgensen

COACHES' QUOTES & ATHLETES TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

Augustana has an entire team of excited players for the fall and spring season. We were fortunate to make it to nationals last spring. The team witnessed where we need work and agreed to work harder. We are deep in our roster and can go out in any event with any 5 players. Our leaders, Molly Stevens and Lauren Tims, will keep the team on an even keel. This is truly a great team...from the families and friends that support us, we will be giving it the best team effort possible.
Director of Golf Coralee Jorgensen
Molly has been a self-motivated player for the past 4 years. She has high goals and every year, the goals get a bit higher! Her summer has been a regiment of workouts, practicing, and playing in competitive events. She is ready and excited for the first tee shot to be hit.
Director of Golf Coralee Jorgensen

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

This team has so much potential, with both the women we have returning as well as the incoming freshmen coming in. Every tournament I have full confidence that each person wearing the green and white will compete at the highest level, looking to improve with each round played. This year presents an opportunity to grow Bemidji State Women's golf, and this group of women is the perfect roster to take our program to the next level.
Head Coach Erica Gartner
Mollie exemplifies everything it means to be a student-athlete competing at this level, on the course as well as off the course. She is a leader in the classroom, making several all-academic teams over her career. Athletically, last year she tied the school record for lowest round, and I fully anticipate her chasing that record again, this time to etch her name in the BSU record book for good. She decided to come back for her 5th season, and I couldn't be more excited to have her back and leading this team forward.
Head Coach Erica Gartner

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

We are excited about this year's team. There is a solid mix of experienced seniors, talented sophomores and incoming freshman. The ladies are ready to get back out on the course, compete and have some fun. We are excited to watch this group grow and come together on and off the course.
Head Coach Peter Maki
Anna demonstrates excellence both on the course and in the classroom. She always brings such a great energy and positive outlook to her team. We can’t wait to watch our senior captain compete this year!
Head Coach Peter Maki

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

We have strived to have a nurturing environment that keeps pushing this year's team to challenge themselves and develop a strong capacity for determination. We are starting to see the fruits of that now. We have set program bests each year and continue to trend upward. I'm excited to see where we go from here!
Coach Marion Hernandez
Carrie has just scratched the surface of her potential. She has sheer determination, tenacity and zest that reflects on the course and in her academic studies. We are looking forward to seeing what she can do this coming year.
Coach Marion Hernandez

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

This year we have a good amount of experience coming back with multiple players that have played in multiple events. We are also bringing in a solid freshman class that'll contribute to our team immediately. We have continued to move in the right direction as a program and I expect a big leap this year with our returners and our newcomers.
Head Coach Bryant Friskop
Anaka broke every school record in her freshman year and is due to have a big Sophomore campaign. Her ball striking and distance is her biggest strength that can really help set her up for low scores. Anaka has been playing a ton this summer and I know she will have big expectations for herself to get her average in the 70s and be one of the top players in the NSIC.
Head Coach Bryant Friskop

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

The women have a great upside with returning three starters that saw action in all events. They are playing in familiar events on familiar golf courses so we look for continued success this season!
Head Coach Alex Schmitz
Anna has led the Mavericks for the last two years with the lowest scoring average on the team. She was top-5 in the conference in scoring average for 2022-23. She is a great leader and looking forward to her competing for a regional spot this year.
Head Coach Alex Schmitz

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

I'm eager to learn the ropes with College Golf. We have a lot of great girls on the team, and I'm looking forward to helping them reach their potential and take strides to improve every day/meet. I'm really excited for this journey!
Head Coach Brock Ellingson
Madison will be completing her collegiate career after the Fall 2023 season. She is student teaching in the Spring semester. She brings a lot of experience with her. I'm excited to work with her as this is my first season at the helm. She is a leader and I hope that reaches our team, as we look to flip the culture at MSUM.
Head Coach Brock Ellingson

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

What excites me for this season is that we return everyone, with one new incoming freshman, who should make an impact right away as well. Our returning core should continue to develop and push the rest of the team in the right direction.
Head Coach Eli Mihalick
We are excited to see Taylor continue to progress this year, and keep improving on some of her higher finishes from last year, and keep pushing everyone on the team to improve with her.
Head Coach Eli Mihalick

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

We have four incoming freshmen who are really good players, come from good high school programs and have enjoyed a lot of success. Add to these four, the return of two-time all-conference selection Maggie Veenendall, makes me think we will be much improved and more competitive than we have been the past two years. I'm excited to watch our newcomers adapt to college golf. If they play and compete like I think they will, it's going to be a fun year.
Head Coach Wade Merry
Maggie missed all of last season after having off-season surgery following a season in which she earned all-conference honors for the second time. Indications are that her game is rounding into shape and I expect by season's end she will be, again, one of the top players in the NSIC. In addition to being a really good player, Maggie is also the leader of our team. With four freshmen joining our program this season, I will be counting on Maggie to mentor these young women and provide that leadership that is needed for us to have a successful year.
Head Coach Wade Merry

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

I am excited for the upcoming season as we have a strong veteran group that will lead our team this season. We have the talent, experience and leadership to be competitive in every tournament we play in. I am looking forward to seeing how this team comes together and grows through the season. It will be a fun year.
Head Coach Ross Webskowski
Lauryn has so much passion for the game of golf. She works extremely hard on her game. Lauryn has lots of talent, knowledge for the game and competitive drive which puts her in position to be successful. I am looking forward to this season as I believe things will all come together for her and have a successful year.
Head Coach Ross Webskowski

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

We have a very talented group with more depth than previous years. I am excited to see the level our team can reach with more internal competition to drive them. I can't wait to see who steps up to the challenge in our group.
Head Coach Nick Swaney
Jazmine has continually found ways to improve her golf game and competitive drive. She is an incredibly hard worker. Most importantly she understands the areas where she can improve and separate her scoring from other players in the field.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Warriors return all five of our starters from last season's team that finished second in the conference. Ellie Behring has been a bright spot for the Warriors as she was voted second team all-conference last season. With four seniors this season, the Warriors have no lack of tournament experience, with Rothgarn, Moon, Henderson and Baldwin all having been starters for years for WSU. We are also excited about our incoming freshmen this fall Celia Turner and Maeve McDougal. We are looking forward to a great season ahead for the Warriors.
Head Coach Jeff Straight
Carly has been a huge asset to our team the past few years, she has set two school scoring records at WSU. Last season Carly made the NCAA Regional Tournament as an Individual, she was also All-NSIC First Team, and made the All-Tournament Team at the Conference Championship. Carly is a dedicated student athlete not only on the golf course but in the classroom. Her game has improved greatly since her freshman year, not only through her hard work and dedication but with her wonderful demeanor on the course and in all tournament situations. Carly is poised to make her senior year the best ever.
Head Coach Jeff Straight
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