Bruins Predicted to Win Eighth Consecutive NWC Title in Women's Golf Preseason Coaches Poll
|
Team
|
Pts.
|
'19 NWC finish |
|
George Fox (8)
|
64
|
T-1st
|
|
Whitman (1)
|
56
|
T-1st
|
|
Whitworth
|
51
|
3rd
|
|
Lewis & Clark
|
40
|
4th
|
|
Pacific Lutheran
|
39
|
5th
|
|
Pacific (Ore.)
|
27
|
6th
|
|
Puget Sound
|
23
|
7th
|
|
Linfield
|
13
|
T-9th
|
|
Willamette
|
12
|
T-9th
|
(Points awarded on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Coaches could not vote for their own teams; numbers in parentheses indicate first place votes)
The George Fox Bruins are predicted to win the NWC title for the eighth consecutive season in the NWC Women's Golf Preseason Coaches Poll, earning 64 points in the poll and received eight first place votes.
In a repeat of the previous season, the Bruins captured the NWC Fall and Spring Classic titles, but fell to the Whitman Blues at the NWC Championship to tie for first place in final standings. In a five hole playoff, the Bruins overcame the Blues to earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championship. The Bruins carried a packed roster, with five placing within the top 10 at all three NWC events. Senior leader Iris Kawada tied for second at the Fall Classic and was the individual medalist at the Spring Classic while teammates Alexandria McMenamin, Janelle Decker, Rachel Drgastin, and Kayle Hunn were not far behind, also finishing each NWC event within the top 10. At the NCAA Championship in Houston, Texas, the Bruins finished seventh overall, with Kayle Hunn leading the pack with a tie for 18th place.
Ranked fifth in the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Preseason Poll, the Bruins return All-NWC first team selection and All-Region second team selection Hunn and All-NWC second team Drgastin to lead the Bruins as they pursue yet another Northwest Conference title in the 2019-20 season.
The Whitman Blues place second in the poll with 56 points and one first place vote. NWC Player of the Year Shiyang Fan was an asset to the team's success last season, placing first at the Fall Classic and NWC Championship and fourth at the Spring Classic. The Blues placed second at the Fall and Spring Classics before tying the Bruins at the Championship to earn a share of the NWC title. All-NWC first team selection Hannah Roh as well as All-NWC second team choices Emma Beyer, Kasey Godwin, and Ally Collier will return to the Blues' roster as they seek to snag the NWC title once again.
Whitworth earns third place in the poll with 51 points. Allie Slingsby was a leader for the Pirates in the 2018-19 season, finishing within the top 10 in all three NWC events. After placing fourth at the Fall Classic, the Pirates bounced back to earn third place in the remaining events to finish the season ranked third overall. An All-NWC second team selection, Slingsby returns this season to lead the seasoned Pirates team in the 2019-20 season.
Lewis & Clark places fourth in the poll with 40 points. The Pios finished the previous season fourth overall after taking third at the Spring Classic and NWC Championship and fourth at the Fall Classic. NWC Freshman of the Year Kamryn Ford placed 13that the NWC Championship for her best finish at an NWC event throughout the season. Ford returns a sophomore in 2019 to lead the young Pios team as they seek another positive showing in NWC play.
Pacific Lutheran sits just one point behind the Pios with 39 to place fifth. The Lutes finished the 2018-19 season fifth in final conference standings with 16 total points, with their best finish at the Spring Classic where they took fourth. Leading the Lutes in all three NWC events, Sami Briney enjoyed her best finish at the Spring Classic, where she took seventh place. Briney returns for her senior season with the Lutes as they seek to climb in conference standings in the upcoming season.
Pacific (Ore.) ranks sixth in the poll with 27 points. The Boxers move up one spot after concluding the previous season ranked seventh in final conference standings, with their best performance resulting in a fifth-place finish at the Fall Classic. Team frontrunner Briana Finau led the Boxers in their efforts, placing 14th at the Fall Classic and 17th at both the Spring Classic and NWC Championship. Finau returns a senior alongside Jessica Braun as the Boxers enter the 2019-20 season.
Puget Sound earns 23 points to rank seventh in the poll. The Loggers finished seventh overall in final conference standings in the previous season, having been led by Kristi Koyanagi and Allyson Niitani. Niitani returns to the Loggers' roster for her senior season in 2019 to head the Loggers in their efforts in the upcoming season.
Linfield earns 13 points to place eighth in the poll. A team leader in her freshman season, Raegan Barr will return to lead the Wildcats as they seek to improve upon last season's finish.
Willamette rounds out the poll with 12 points to place ninth. After leading the Bearcats in all three NWC events in the 2018-19 season, including a 15th place finish at the Spring Classic, Lexi Towner returns for her senior season to lead the team as they seek to build on last season's finish.
The season will officially kick off on September 14th with seven Northwest Conference teams competing as Pacific Lutheran hosts the Collegiate Invite at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash. and Pacific (Ore.) hosts the Pacific Invitational at Quail Valley Golf Club in Banks, Ore.
To view the complete 2019-20 men's and women's golf schedule, click here.