SIOUX FALLS. – After winning its first-ever team title, finishing second or better at three tournaments and earning a No. 9 regional ranking, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team will have plenty of momentum as they open the spring section of their schedule. Directed by Head Coach Tavia Rutherford, the Cougars will open the spring campaign by competing at the Warrior Vegas Invite on Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10 at Stallion Mountain in Las Vegas, Nev.   

Fans can follow along with results at USF_Athletics twitter or at USFCougars.com where results will be posted following each day of competition.

Regional Ranking
After a history-making fall, the Cougars were recognized for their standout play. USF was ranked ninth in the NCAA DII Women's Golf Regional Ranking released on Feb. 6. Other NSIC teams ranked included Augustana, seventh, and Minnesota State, 14th.  Two more regional rankings will be released this spring with the next one set for March 26 and then again on April 16.

Teams selected to the NCAA Regionals will be announced on Monday, April 27. The NCAA Central Super Regional will be played at Mules National Golf Club in Warrensburg, Missouri and hosted by the University of Central Missouri on May 4-6. Four 54-hole regional competitions will be conducted to determine the participants in the NCAA DII Championships. 12 Teams and six individuals will participate in each regional competition.

Four teams and four individuals (not on one of the advancing teams) will advance from each regional to the championships finals. A total of 96 participants will advance to the finals. The championships finals will consist of both team and individual competition conducted concurrently. All participants will compete in 54 holes of stroke play competition, with the top eight teams advancing to a head-to-head medal match play bracket for the quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship round. In the team competition, the lowest four scores for each team will count in each day's total score. The individual national champion will be crowned after the 54-hole stroke play competition. The NCAA Championships will be held May 13-16 at The Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans, Missouri.

Breaking down the fall
As they begin play this spring, USF had a solid fall with competition at five tournaments. USF placed in the top three on three occasions with a first-ever victory at the Augustana Invitational on Sept. 27-29. The Cougars have averaged a round of 307.7 with 3,077 strokes across 10 rounds and the five competitions. Twice the Cougars met a program-best 303. The Cougars also carded a program-best two-round total of 612 at the Central Region Preview to open the season on Sept. 4. 

The Cougars won the Augustana Invite by seven shots on Sept. 29 when Lexi Jonas won her first-ever medalist honors. After the season-best team placing, Jonas was named USF's second straight NSIC Women's Golfer of the Week as senior Lexi Hanson won the honor on Sept. 27 after she captured medalist honors at the MIAA Preview on Sept. 25. Jonas earned her first-ever NSIC Golfer of the Week honor while Hanson captured her fourth such league honor.

Player Notes – Both Hanson and Jonas win tourneys for first time
Two-time regional participant and All-NSIC standout Lexi Hanson has the best stroke average at 74.90. She has played 10 rounds with 749 shots and a low round of 67. Hanson captured the individual title at the MIAA Fall Preview at Awarii Dunes in Axtell, Neb., by registering a 141 with rounds of 74 and 67 and finishing three under par. She helped USF finished third. This fall she had both three top-five finishes and three top-10 results. In all 10 rounds, Hanson had a sub-80 with four rounds of sub-75 (71 at Midwest Classic, 74 and 67 at MIAA Fall Previeww and 74, Central Region Fall Preview).

Juniors Lexi Jonas and Sydney Hubbard follow Hanson in average stroke per round at 78.20 and 78.70. Jonas, who has made 782 shots in 10 rounds, had a low round of 73 at the Augustana Invite where she captured her first-ever individual title at USF. Jonas had three top-10 finishes which included a seventh place finish at the MIAA Fall Preview where she carded a career best 148 (74-74). Jonas carded six sub-80 rounds with thre rounds of 74 or lower.

Hubbard had 10 rounds with 787 shots and a low round of 74 which she carded in the second round at the MIAA Fall Preview. She finished fourth at the Augustana Invite with a 156 (79-77). Hubbard had six sub-80 rounds in the fall.

Three other USF players averaged between 79.0 and 79.90. Freshman Maggie Veenendall ranked fourth on USF at 79.0 with 790 shots in 10 rounds and a low score of 75. She had one top-10 finish by carding a 156 (79-77) and tied Hubbard for fourth at the Augustana Invite. She had six sub-80 rounds with a career-best round of 151 where she had her best round at 75 and nearly matched it wit ha 76 in finishing tied for 14^th.

Freshman Annie Balduzzi shot eight rounds with 636 shots for a 79.50 round average for fifth on the team. Balduzzi and a top-10 finish and her best round was 75 at the Golden Bear Classic where she had a career-best finish of sixth with a 156 (81-75). Her best round was at the MIAA Fall Preview where she was tied for 20^th with a career-best 153 (76-77). Five times she shot a sub-80 round.

As for junior Alex Nutter, she averaged 79.90 with 10 rounds shot and 799 total shots. She shot a best round 0f 73 at the MIAA Fall Preview. Twice she shot a season-best 157. She was tied for 37^th with a 157 and rounds of 78-79 at the Midwest Classic in October and early had a 157 with the same rounds of 78-79 in tying for 36^th at the Central Region Fall Preview in September. Seven times she had sub-80 rounds.

All for USF, junior Kyleigh Moran shot four rounds with an average of 81.75. She had a low of 80 at the Augustana Invite. Freshman Maddi Hanson shot two rounds and had a 86.0 per round average and a best round of 85. Taylor Sudenga had a round average of 93.0 with a best round of 91 in two rounds shot.

Review of USF this fall

Cougars finish ninth at the Midwest Golf Classic
Led by Lexi Hanson and Alex Nutter, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team concluded the fall schedule in a tie for ninth (624/310-314) in the team standings at the Midwest Golf Classic, which concluded Tuesday (Oct. 8) at the Mules National Golf Club.  After opening with a round of 310, USF finished at 314 in round two and tied for ninth at 624 as they were just two shots behind Oklahoma Baptist (622/314-308) in eighth place. The team champion was Northeastern State at 596 (295-301). Susana Oliveres of second place Central Oklahoma (604/302-302) was the medalist with a two-round total of 141 (72-69). Hanson, who earned her fourth NSIC Women's Golfer of the Week honor on Sept. 27, had her second best round of the season on day one with a 71 and followed up with a 79 for a two-round total of 150 and a tie for 12^th place among individuals. Hanson birdied hole 10 and had eight pars in the second round. She finished with five birdies and 19 pars in the two rounds. Junior Alex Nutter concluded her fall season with a two-round total of 157 (78-79). Nutter, who had birdies on holes three and seven and added seven pars in round two, finished in a tie for 38^th. She finished with five birdies and 17 pars during the two rounds of play.  

Jonas recorded medalist honors and led USF to team title at Augustana Invite  
For the first time in DII program history, the USF Women's Golf Team won a team championship by capturing the Augustana Invitational at the Elmwood Golf Course on Sunday, Sept. 29. It was a record-setting day, as USF junior Lexi Jonas of Hudson, Wis., won her first individual title after a carding a career-low in the final round on her way to medalist honors. It was indeed a special day for the USF Women's Golf Team as they had an individual win medalist honors for the second straight tournament. And, after finishing runner-up as a team six times in program history, the Cougars stepped into the winner's circle on a cool and rainy Sunday afternoon with a two-round total of 43-over par 619 (313-306). USF finished seven shots ahead of Augustana, which finished 50-over par and 626 (312-314). Northwest Missouri State was third with a 65-over par total of 641 (316-325) with Minot State in fourth at 71-over par and 647 (331-316). As for Jonas, she claimed medalist honors for the first time with a seven-over par total of 151 (78-73). After opening with a 78 on Saturday, she closed with a career-best round of 73. As a result, she finished one shot ahead of Augustana's Hannah Hankinson (152), who was the preseason NSIC Women's Golfer of the Year. Aside from Jonas, the Cougars had three individuals tied for fourth. Senior Lexi Hanson, who was named the NSIC Women's Golfer of the Week on Thursday, finished at 156 (78-78) with consecutive rounds of 78. Junior Sydney Hubbard also had a 156 (79-77) as she opened with a 79 on day one and closed at 77 to also tie for fourth. Playing as an individual, freshman Maggie Veenendall was also at 12-over, 156 (79-77) as she a 79 on day one and closed at 77. Junior Alex Nutter finished 19^th with an 18-over par two-round total of 162 (8-84). Also for USF, freshman Annie Balduzzi was tied for 22^nd with her teammate Kyleigh Moran, who was playing as an individual. Balduzzi had a 164 (86-78) as she opened with an 86 and then cut eight shots on the total with a 78. Meanwhile Moran also carded a 20-over par 164 (84-80) as she opened with an 84 on day one and knocked four shots off that total with an 80 today. Also for USF, freshman Maddi Hanson was 35^th at the Augie Invite with a 28-over par two-round total of 172 (85-87). After opening with an 85, she closed with an 87 in her first performance as a collegian. Senior Taylor Sudenga was 53^rd with a 42-over par total of 186 (95-91).
 
Hanson captured medalist honors as USF was second at MIAA Invite
On a history-making day, Lexi Hanson won her first-ever tournament and led the USF Women's Team to a second-place finish with a school record mark of 597 (309-288) at the highly competitive MIAA Invite which concluded on Wednesday (Sept. 25) at Awarii Dunes. After opening at 309 on Tuesday, the Cougars shattered the school-record for a round with a 288 and beat their previous two-round total by 15 shots. The Cougars had set the mark of 612 at the Central Region Preview in Blue Springs, Mo, on Sept. 3-4. But today with Hanson winning medalist honors for just the second time in school history (Tavia Rutherford, 149, Concordia University Invite), the Cougars finished at 597 and tied with Rogers State for second (597-310-287) and 10 shots from team champion Central Missouri at 587 (296-291). With the 288, USF shot the second-best round of the tourney (Rogers State, 287, day 2). After USF, Central Oklahoma was fourth at 606 (305-301) and Nebraska-Kearney, fifth (609 – 308-301). USF was among 12 teams competing at the tournament but the only NSIC rep. At the meet, USF had career-bests from four golfers (Hanson, Lexi Jonas, Sydney Hubbard and Alex Nutter) involved a team which cut 21 shots off their day one total. And, as a result, USF Head Coach Tavia Rutherford was very proud and pleased with her squad. Hanson, who carded eight birdies (fourth-best in the tournament), an eagle, and had 22 pars (tied for 6^th in the tourney), opened with a 74 but had a remarkable performance on day two of the MIAA Invite. By carding a career-low 67, the Chanhassen, Minn., native finished with the program's best individual round and her 141 total was the best-two round total in USF DII program-history. In fact, she beat her own previous mark of 149 (74-75) at the Ramada Mustang Invite on Sept. 22-23, 2018 and that of Rutherford who as a former USF standout had a 149 at the Concordia University Invite on Sept. 13-14, 2014. Hanson had owned the previous best round of 71 (UNK Spring Invite on March 26, 2017) but today shot a 5-under par round of 67. As remarkable as Hanson performed, her teammate and junior Lexi Jonas had her best performance at USF. If not for Hanson, she would have established a school record for the best two-round total. Jonas, of Hudson, Wis., set a career-low of 74 on day one and matched that total on day two with another 74 as she carded a career-best 148. With that mark, Jonas grabbed a top-10 finish as she tied for seventh. Like Hanson, Jonas had eight birdies and an eagle. USF also had career-best rounds on day two from juniors Sydney Hubbard and Alex Nutter, who had 22 pars (6^th best at tourney) across two rounds. Hubbard finished at 156 and a tied for seventh overall. After opening at 82, Hubbard carded a 74 to establish her career-low round. Nutter opened with a 90 but came up huge for USF on day two with a career-low of 73 to finish at 163 and tied for 44^th. She was tied for 44^th with freshman Maggie Veenendall, who had a 163 with rounds of 79 and 84. Playing as an individual, freshman Annie Balduzzi dazzled again on the course. She had a career-low of 9-over par 153 with rounds of 76 and 77. She bettered her previous two-round mark of 156 (81-75) on Sept. 16-17, 2019 at the Golden Bear Classic.

Cougars take second at the Golden Bear Classic 
With every member of the team improving their second round two score, USF finished second at the Golden Bear Classic on Sept. 16-17 at The Jewel Golf Club. Led by a third-place finish from senior Lexi Hanson, who carded a team-best 152 (77-75), the Cougars tied tournament team champion Augustana (606-303-303) for the best team round of the tournament at 303. The mark tied the program-best they set on Sept. 3 at the Central Region Fall Preview in Blue Springs, Mo. The Cougars finished at 625 (322-303) by improving 19 shots from round one to round two. After opening with a 322, USF had strong performances across the board with the 303 and moved from fourth to second. Hanson, who now has shot 77 or lower in all four rounds this season, finished third following her 11^th place finish at the Central Region Preview. A two-time All-NSIC and All-Region performance, Hanson opened with a 77 and came in day two at 75. Freshman Annie Balduzzi's score didn't count in the team standings but she had a remarkable performance in her second career competition with USF. She carded a career-best 75 on the second day and with an 81 carded a 12-over par 156 which played her in a tie for sixth. With the finish she had her best finish at USF. Junior Lexi Jonas tied her career-best round of 77 (Tracy Lane Memorial, Sept. 12, 2017) and finished tied for ninth by tying her career-best two-round total 157 (80-77), which she set on Sept. 22-23, 2018 at the Ramada Mustang Invite (157-79-78). However, by finishing ninth, she had her best finish as she bettered the 12^th place finish at the Tracy Lane Memorial on Sept. 12, 2017. Another freshman, Maggie Veenendall, had her best finish at USF at 13^th with a two-round score of 158. She opened with an 80 and closed at 78 with her three sub-80 round in four shot this season. Junior Alex Nutter also stepped up on day two. After opening at 85, she improved her round by 10 shots as she carded a 75 for a two-round total of 160 and earning a tied for 18^th.  Another junior Sydney Hubbard also had a solid day two by tying her best round of the season. After carding an 85 on day one she finished with a 76 which placed her 17-over par with a two-round total of 161 and a tied for 21^st. Junior Kyleigh Moran also played as an individual. She had her second best two round total (Augustana Invite, Sept. 29-30, 2018, 80-78-158) by carding a 163 with rounds of 80 and 83.

Cougars set program marks at Central Region Preview
Led by senior Lexi Hanson and freshman Maggie Veenendall, USF set a two-round DII program record of 612 and finished seventh at the Central Region Preview on Sept. 3-4. In the opening round of the tourney, USF recorded the best round of the DII era at 303, which placed the Cougars in a tie for second place with Henderson State and Central Missouri. On day two, the Cougars finished just slightly off the opening day pace with a 309, which bettered the best mark of a year ago by three strokes. USF was seventh at 612 (303-309) but just three shots from fifth and had the lowest two rounds in the program's DII history. Central Missouri won the tournament at 602 (303-299) with Henderson State, second at 603 (303-300). After those two teams, Nebraska-Kearney was third at 607 (313-294) with SW Oklahoma State, fourth at 608 (311-297), Rogers State, fifth at 609 (302-307), Northeastern State, sixth at 610 (307-303) and then USF. The Cougars had the best finish among NSIC teams with Minnesota State at 9^th (625-311-314) and Upper Iowa, 14^th (648-323-325). Hanson, a two-time All-NSIC performer and NCAA DII regional qualifier for two straight seasons, opened with a 74 and finished with a 76 as she carded a team-best 150, which placed her a tie for 11^th. Hanson's 150 is just one shot off her career-best of 149 (74-75) at the Ramada Mustang Invite on Sept. 22-23, 2018. Maggie Veenendall opened her career with an impressive three-over par 75 and closed at 76 for a sizzling two-round total 151 and a tie for 14^th. Besides Hanson and Veenendall, USF had solid efforts from three juniors in the opening round. Sydney Hubbard tied for 27^th as she opened at 76 and then had a 78 in day two for a two-round score of 154, which established a career-best for the junior standout. She also had back-to-back sub-80 rounds for the first time. All-NSIC Alex Nutter was tied for 36^th with a two-round total of 157, which was also her career-best two-round total. She followed up her day one 78 by carding a 79. Lexi Jonas finished at 168 or a tie for 74^th. She opened with an 80 and closed at 88 on day two. In addition, freshman Annie Balduzzi finished tied for 59^th as she played as an individual and had a strong day two performance. After opening at 85, she closed with a 78 for a two-round total of 163.    

USF projected in tie for third in NSIC
In the NSIC Coaches Poll, USF finished with 91 points and tied with Concordia St. Paul for third. Augustana was voted as the league favorite and just edged Minnesota State in vote points, 114-to-113. Both AU and MSU received six first place ballots. USF's Lexi Hanson  was named USF's "Player to Watch."