Coaches in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference have a tossup on their hands as to who will win the conference crown in women’s golf, but Dixie State University is the narrow favorite,
The Trailblazers received four first-place votes out of a possible 13 and 127 total points. Dixie State edged out the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs by three points, as the Mountain Lions tallied 124 points and also received two first-place votes. The Mountain Lions will be backed by Julia Baroth, last year’s RMAC Golfer of the Year. Colorado Christian was not far behind, as it scored 119 points and also received two first-place votes, and it returns RMAC Freshman of the year Faith Kilgore. Colorado State University-Pueblo, which won the RMAC Tournament last season, was picked to finish fourth with 118 points but received the same amount of first-place votes, four, as the Trailblazers. Colorado Mesa University was firmly in fifth with 104 points.
Fort Lewis College was picked to finish ninth and it received 61 points, which was well ahead of 10th-place Chadron State University, which received 47 points. Metropolitan State University was picked to finish seventh with 76 points and received the other first-place vote, while Regis and Westminster tied for sixth with 80 points.
Two Skyhawks were named to the preseason players to watch list, as senior Summer Vigil made the list, as did incoming freshman Brooke Sturtevant.
Vigil, a rising senior who was named to the All-RMAC Second Team last season, set a program low scoring record last spring at the Mustang Intercollegiate when she tied for first place with a 143, with rounds of 71 and 72. She was one of five Skyhawks to make the dean’s list last season, and also helped the team earn the RMAC Brechler Award.
Sturtevant will arrive at Fort Lewis with plenty of potential, as she has had a strong summer heading into her first season with the Skyhawks. She finished in fourth place at the New Mexico-West Texas Junior Amateur at the New Mexico State Golf Course last month with a two-round total of 165, with rounds of 88 and 77. She also took fourth at the Sandia Golf Course Tournament earlier last month with a one-round score of 82.
The Skyhawks will kick off the season Sept. 9-10 at the Farmers Insurance Sam Proal Invitational, held at Pueblo Country Club. FLC will host the Skyhawk Fall Intercollegiate Oct. 21 and 22 in Albquerque.
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