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The NSIC Championship might not come around until April, but the league announced its 2026-27 NSIC Preseason Women's Golf Coaches' Poll and highlighted a top player for each program on Tuesday.
Leading the way for Minot State as the Beavers' Player to Watch this season was freshman Emily Watts, while the Beavers were picked 13th in the preseason poll by the NSIC coaches.
"This year's team is a great mix of new and experienced golfers," second-year Minot State head coach Gary "Dakota" Brekhus said. "The talent we recruited this year is incredible! I'm excited to watch Emily and Natalie (Van Dort) out on the course, and to see how far Carlie (Brown) has come over the summer! We're going to have a fun team to watch this year, and I'm really looking forward to it!"
As a team, the Beavers were picked to tie for 13th with St. Cloud State as both schools received 31 points in the preseason poll.
As for Watts, she was the junior girls 2025 JPT Ottawa Championship winner and finished 11th at the 2025 AJGA Preview at Bethpage (N.Y.).
"Emily is a go-getter! She has lofty goals, and an amazing work ethic!" Brekhus said. "Coming from Canada, she's been grinding on the course and has had some amazing finishes during her high-school career. As a true freshman, she's got a hunger to win, and her mindset doesn't let anything get in her way! She's going to be really fun to watch this season!"
Defending NSIC Champion Wayne State was a heavy favorite to claim the title once again this season with 178 points and 11 first-place votes, while Minnesota State was picked 2nd by the coaches with 157 points and 3 first-place votes.
Concordia-St. Paul was picked 3rd with 143 points, Augustana was picked 4th with 121 points, Sioux Falls was picked 5th with 118 points, Winona State was picked 6th with 114 points, Minnesota Crookston was picked 7th with 97 points, Southwest Minnesota State was picked 8th with 79 points, Mary was picked 9th with 67 points, Bemidji State was picked 10th with 49 points, Minnesota State Moorhead was picked 11th with 47 points, Jamestown was picked 12th with 42 points, and Minot State and St. Cloud State tied for 13th with 31 points each.
Concordia-St. Paul sophomore Addi Wood, who was both the 2025-26 NSIC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, was named the 2026-27 Preseason Player of the Year.
The Minot State women's golf team opens the 2026-27 season at the MSU/CSO Fall Brawl at the Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wis., on September 14 and 15.