Sean Arbaut Photo Minot State golfer Taylor Cormier hits a shot from the fairway in this file photo.

Minot State senior Taylor Cormier was named a Golfer to Watch while the Beaver women’s golf team was picked to finish in the middle of the pack as the NSIC released its preseason poll today. 

The Beavers were picked to finish ninth at the NSIC Championships, which will be held in April at the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri, in the NSIC Women’s Golf Preseason Coaches’ Poll. 

As for Cormier, she was highlighted as one of the conference’s Golfers to Watch this season. 

Minot State opens the fall portion of its 2023-24 season this coming week, playing Monday and Tuesday at the Maverick Invitational at the Faribault Golf Club. 

Augustana was a heavy favorite among the coaches to win the NSIC title, earning 11 first-place votes and 121 points, while Winona State collected the lone other first-place vote and 98 points. 

Wayne State was picked to finish third by the coaches with 95 points, then Minnesota State, Mankato in fourth with 93 points. Concordia, St. Paul was fifth with 80 points, Sioux Falls was sixth with 74 points, Southwest Minnesota State was seventh with 62 points, the University of Mary was eighth with 54 points, the Beavers were ninth with 35 points, Minnesota Crookston was 10th with 33 points, Bemidji State was 11th with 25 points, and Minnesota State Moorhead was 12th with 22 points. 

As for Cormier, she is a senior from Corner Brook, Newfoundland who led the team in scoring average last season at 83.6 strokes per round, and with five Top-10 finishes. She was 34th at the 2022-23 NSIC Championship. 

Augustana senior Molly Stevens, who was named the NSIC regular-season 2021-22 and 2022-23 Golfer of the Year, was picked as the Preseason Golfer of the Year for this season.