RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Oklahoma Baptist women's golf team was picked fourth in the GAC Preseason Coaches Poll released Thursday afternoon.
OBU garnered 56 votes around the league, while reigning GAC Champions Henderson State claimed the top spot with 81 votes and nine first-place nods.
Harding took the second slot after 65 votes and one first-place submission, while Southwestern Oklahoma State received the same amount of total votes to come in the No. 3 ranking.
Oklahoma Baptist returns to the course after posting one of its best seasons in the Division II era that saw the program's best finish at the end-of-the-year conference tournament. Additionally, a Bison was named to the GAC All-Tournament team for the first time, and Morgan Becker became the first freshman individual participant at the NCAA Central Regional Championship in school history.
Despite losing the veteran presence of Hayden Meiser and Josie Patterson, Becker and company look to build upon last year's success as four newcomers begin their journey on Bison Hill. A season ago, Becker notified the league with an outstanding inaugural campaign featuring a handful of firsts.
Becker became the first Bison to earn All-GAC First Team honors, collect GAC Golfer of the Week honor three times in a season, and led OBU to its first tournament win since 2018. Furthermore, she was the only Bison to shoot back-to-back rounds under par in the Division II and NAIA era.
The Bison will kick off their 2023 season under head coach Mike Manlapig, who enters his 13th season at the helm, on September 5 at the Central Region Fall Preview in Blue Springs, Mo.
2023 GAC Women's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Henderson State - 81 (9)
2. Harding - 65 (1)
3
. Southwestern Oklahoma State - 65
4.
Oklahoma Baptist - 56
5. Arkansas Tech - 54
6. Southern Arkansas - 40
7. Southern Nazarene - 33
8. Arkansas-Monticello - 21
9. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 21
10. Southeastern Oklahoma State - 14
