BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team, which returns its entire squad from a year ago, been picked to finish fifth in 2019-20 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released by the league office on Wednesday.
The Cougars, which moved up two spots from the preseason coaches rankings of 2018-19, will be led by NSIC "Player to Watch"
JJ Cooney, a senior from Pickstown, S.D., who became USF's first ever three-time All-NSIC selection last spring. USF received 45 vote points and finished just two points behind Bemidji State at 47. USF jumped up 12 vote points from a year ago when the Cougars were tabbed seventh with 33 points.
Winona State was the league favorite with six of 10 first place votes and 77 points. Concordia St. Paul earned two first place votes and 71 points for second in the preseason poll while Minnesota State had one first place vote and 69 points. BSU, which finished just ahead of USF for fourth, had one first place vote with its 47 vote points.
Complete NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll:
| 1. Winona State (6) |
77 |
| 2. Concordia-St. Paul (2) |
71 |
| 3. Minnesota State (1) |
69 |
| 4. Bemidji State (1) |
47 |
| 5. Sioux Falls |
45 |
| 6. Minot State |
43 |
| 7. Upper Iowa |
35 |
| 8. St. Cloud State |
29 |
| 9. Augustana |
24 |
| 10. Minnesota Crookston |
10 |
Quick Preview -- USF Golf
The Cougars, which will be directed by first-year head coach
Tavia Rutherford, return plenty of experience with its top seven all returning to lead the squad.
Led by junior
Brenden Bassing 11
th place finish of 225 (79-73-73), USF Men's Golf finished fifth at the NSIC Men's Golf Championship in 2018. USF, which had four team placings of fifth or better last spring, finished at 917 (313-306-298) and the fifth place showing was a major jump from a year ago 2017 when the Cougars captured eighth place in the team standings.
The Cougars return its entire lineup and should again be a factor in the NSIC Championship race. Bassing, who finished 32
nd a year ago, had a major jump in 2018 with his placing of 11
th.
JJ Cooney, who was 13
th at the NSIC Meet (227 - 78-72-77), collected his third all-league honor and it is the second time he was selected second team.
Cooney ranked eighth in the NSIC with a per round average of 74.65 with 1,493 shots on 20 rounds. As a team, the Cougars averaged 305.50 per round and was led by Cooney at 74.65 per round. Bassing averaged 76.95 for second best on the team with
Jacob Zosel third at 77.40 and sophomore
Jack Evans at 78.00 during his freshman campaign. The Cougars shot a season-best 290 at the UIU Spring Invite. Five times the Cougars shot a sub-300 and will look to build on that this year.
USF opens the season at the Watkins Invitational, which will be hosted by Winona State, on Sept. 5-7 at The Jewel Golf Club, Lake City, Minn.
