SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Denver was once again selected by The Summit League's eight head coaches to win the #SummitWGF Championship in April, marking the eighth straight year the Pioneers claimed that distinction. Summit League officials released its 2021 Women's Golf Preseason Poll and Golfers to Watch list Thursday.
The Pioneers, who have represented the league in the NCAA Tournament six times since becoming a member in 2012-13, received all seven of the first-place votes they could receive while Oral Roberts followed in second place with 37 points. South Dakota State was a point behind the Golden Eagles in third with 36 and received the remaining first-place vote.
North Dakota State took fourth with 34 points, South Dakota was fifth with 25 points, while Omaha (19), North Dakota (13) and Western Illinois (11) rounded out the poll.
The 2020 Summit League Championship was cancelled due to Covid-19 and the 2021 event will return to Newton, Kan., and be played at the Sand Creek Station Golf Club on April 24-26.
2021 Women's Golf Preseason Poll
| Program |
Points |
| 1. Denver |
49 (7) |
| 2. Oral Roberts |
37 |
| 3. South Dakota State |
36 (1) |
| 4. North Dakota State |
34 |
| 5. South Dakota |
25 |
| 6. Omaha |
19 |
| 7. North Dakota |
13 |
| 8. Western Illinois |
11 |
First-place vote in parentheses
#SummitWGF Preseason Notes
- This is the eighth-consecutive season the Denver Pioneers have topped the preseason poll. DU returned to the winner's circle at the 2019 Summit League Championship – the last one completed before the 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
- Four of five 2019 All-Summit League first-team selections return for the 2021 spring campaign, including three-time honoree Teresa Toscano from South Dakota State. Toscano was an all-second team performer in 2017 and first-team performer in 2018 and 2019. She is joined by Denver's Mary Weinstein and Camille Enright and Oral Roberts' Sarah Bell.
- Three selections from the All-Summit League second team also return. That trio includes Oral Roberts' Isabella Caamal, Denver's Alyson Bean, and North Dakota State's Taylor McCorkle.
- Four of the top-six finishers from the 2019 Championship in Newton, Kan., will take another shot at the title in 2021, including Weinstein, who is the reigning Championship MVP.
- Weinstein closed out her trophy chase with a Summit League Championship single-round record of 65 (-7) to win the event by seven strokes.
- During the shortened 2019-20 season, Denver newcomer Anna Zanusso topped all league golfers with a 72.1 stroke average, which included individual titles at the Golfweek Conference Challenge and the Westbrook Invitational). The Italian tied the NCAA single-round record with a 61 (-11) in round two of the latter.
- The Pioneers posted the top team scoring average during the shortened season, turning in a 289.8 average.
- In the history of the league, only three programs have ever won the women's golf championship: Oral Roberts (15), Denver (5) and North Dakota State (2).
Preseason Watch List (Alphabetically)
Sarah Bell // Oral Roberts // So. // Jackson, Mo.
- Career Scoring Average: 73.9
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Totals
- 22 rounds played
- 74.1 scoring average
- Captured medalist honors at the 2019 Johnie Imes Invitation (209; -7, fall)
- Six top-five finishes through two collegiate seasons
- First Team All-Summit League as a freshman in 2019
- 2019 Summit League All-Tournament Team (3rd-place finish)
Mandi Granato // Omaha // So. // Plainfield, Ill.
- Career Scoring Average: 79.8
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Totals
- 17 rounds played
- 81.1 scoring average
- Three top-10 finishes in the fall of 2020, including win at Maverick Invitational
- Posted career-lows for single round (72) and 54-hole scoring (228) en route to title
Laerke Jensen // South Dakota // Jr. // Hobro, Denmark
- Career Scoring Average: 77.9
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Totals
- 18 rounds played
- 78. 9 scoring average
- Three career top-10 finishes
- Tied for 14th at the 2019 Summit League Championship
Cassidy Jurkaites // Western Illinois // Sr. // Mishawaka, Ind.
- Career Scoring Average: 80.9
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Totals
- 19 rounds played
- 78.9 scoring average
- Six career top-10 finishes
- Matched career-low round with a first-round 73 at the Butler Fall Invitational
Taylor McCorkle // North Dakota State // Jr. // Oregon, Wis.
- Career Scoring Average: 76.3
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Totals
- 15 rounds played
- 76.2 scoring average
- Eight career top-10 finishes, including two victories during 2018-19 season
- Second Team All-Summit League as a sophomore in 2019
- Three-time WGCA All-American Scholar
Pemika Ponlamuangdee // North Dakota // So. // Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Career Scoring Average: 79.6
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Fall Totals
- 16 rounds played
- 79.6 scoring average
- Closed fall of 2019 with season-best 72 (E) in final round at Rainbow Wahine Invitational
- Second on team with seven rounds in the 70's during the fall
Teresa Toscano // South Dakota State // Sr. // Huelva, Spain
- Career Scoring Average: 73.8 (SDSU record)
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Totals
- 19 rounds played
- 72.8 scoring average
- 25 career top-10 finishes, 17 career top-5 finishes, four collegiate victories
- Two top-five finishes at Summit League Championships (2nd, 2018; 4th, 2019)
- 2018 and 2019 First Team All-Summit League selection
- 2017, 2018, 2019 Summit League Championship All-Tournament Team
- 2017 Second Team All-Summit League selection
Anna Zanusso // Denver // So. // Castelfranco Veneto, Italy
- Career Scoring Average: 72.1
- Career Bests (strokes)
- 2019-20 Fall Totals
- 24 rounds played
- 71.63 scoring average
- Four top-10 finishes, four top-five finishes, two victories during freshman season
- Captured medalist honors at second collegiate event – Golfweek Conference Challenge
- Shot NCAA record-tying 61 (-11) in second round of Westbrook Invitational en route to medalist honors
- Posted seven rounds in the 60's and shot par or better 14 times during first year
#SUMMITWGF
