Women’s Golf Ninth in Initial NCAA Central Region Ranking

NCAA Rankings

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings women’s golf team is ninth in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, which were released this week.  Minnesota State is the top-ranked team in the poll.

The Jackets, a NCAA regional qualifier last year, also would qualify this year if the season ended today.  Nine teams make the super-regional field with the top three advancing to the NCAA Championships.  The Central Region championship will be held at The Jewel Golf Course in Lake City, Minn., May 2-4.  The NCAA Championships are scheduled for Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., May 12-15.

Concordia-St. Paul is second in the rankings, followed by Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member, Mesa State, Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa round out the top five.  RMAC member, Western New Mexico is sixth, followed by Augustana College (SD), Winona State, MSUB and St. Cloud State is 10th.  Adams State is 11th followed by Regis (CO) is 12th.

The Yellowjackets travel to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Grand Canyon Invitational, Apr. 5-6, and then return to Arizona for the RMAC Championships, Apr. 18-20.  The Jackets currently are second in the RMAC standings with 21 points, three points behind league-leader Mesa State.  Western New Mexico is in third with 15 points.

Sophomore Kalli Stanhope leads the Yellowjackets in RMAC meets with an 81.2 stroke average which is good for fifth-best in the league.  Amy Nordeen and Erin Heaney are 13th and 14th, respectively, with averages of 83.0 and 83.3. Stanhope qualified for the NCAA Championships last year as an individual, finishing tied for 70th.