BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Augustana women's golf team has been selected to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll the conference announced Thursday morning. The Vikings, winners of nine of the last ten NSIC championships, garnered 136 points and six first-place votes. Senior Alex Stone was also selected as Augustana's Preseason Golfer to Watch.

"We are so excited to get to compete again," head coach Coralee Jorgensen said. "Our seasoned players have been working hard, getting stronger and doing the reps to be ready for our first outing. Our newcomers are learning from the older women and fitting in well."

The Vikings
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.

Senior Natalie Young 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) account for three more 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. 

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. 

Alex Stone
A Crosslake, Minnesota, native, senior Alex Stone comes into the 2020-21 season as Augustana's Preseason Golfer To Watch. The two-time All-NSIC golfer placed first in three-of-seven events during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season en route to NSIC Golfer of the Week honors twice and 75.67 average strokes per round. 

The senior shot a season-low in 2019-20 of 69 in the second round of the Golden Bear Classic on Sept. 17, 2019. Stone went on to win the event, edging the now-graduated, and former teammate, Hannah Hankinson by two strokes. 

"Alex is a player who epitomizes how a freshman improves and matures into a leader," said Coach Jorgensen. "She learned from a group of excellent players before her, and from retired coach, Peggy Kirby. Her light demeanor, desire to perform and ability to be mentally strong, have proven to be a combination to her success. She flat out knows how to get it done. Alex is simply the best leader and co-captain for the Lady Vikings!"

Full Poll
 

1. Augustana (6)	136
2. Sioux Falls (5)	130
3. Minnesota State (2)	120
4. Concordia-St. Paul	109
5. Minot State	97
6. Upper Iowa	81
7. Bemidji State	72
8. Southwest Minnesota State	66
9. Winona State	58
10. Wayne State	44
11. UMary	38
12. MSU Moorhead	37
13. Minnesota Crookston	26