BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The NSIC Women's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll released today with USF picked to finish 6^th and Maggie Veenendall named USF's Athlete to Watch.
 
Last season, the Cougars placed 8^th at the 2023 NSIC Championship which was highlighted by Marisa Weeks hole-in-one. Team leader Maggie Veenendall was unable to play last year which left a hole for some of the younger golfers to fill. Without their leader the Coo struggled with consistency but showed flashes of good play including winning the tournament they hosted in Larchwood, IA in October. 3^rd year Head Coach Wade Merry has brought in a talented group of freshmen that he expects to very quickly challenge for the top spots on the roster and even rival Veenendall herself who will be returning to play this season.
 
We have four incoming freshmen who are really good players, come from good high school programs and have enjoyed a lot of success. Add to these four, the return of two-time all-conference selection Maggie Veenendall, makes me think we will be much improved and more competitive than we have been the past two years. I'm excited to watch our newcomers adapt to college golf. If they play and compete like I think they will, it's going to be a fun year.
 
Despite her hiatus from the green last year, Maggie Veenendall was named USF's Athlete to Watch for the 2023-24 season. Her last trip to the course came in 2021-22 where she finished tied for 12^th place and was named First Team All-NSIC on the back of her 78.7 stroke average. The expectations are high for her not only with a club but also as a leader. The graduate student is the most experienced golfer on the roster and statistically the best, the promising group of incoming freshmen with certainly look to her to set the tone for the season.  
Women's Golf will open the season by teeing off at the Central Region Fall Preview on September 5^th in Blue Springs, Mo.