RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- For the first time in program history, California Baptist University Women’s Golf took the top spot in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll Friday.
After finishing last season ranked third and earning a third-place finish at the national tournament, CBU’s combination of returning talent and solid incoming players helped garner the No. 1 ranking.
“It helps when you have a three-time All-American and the individual National Champion coming back,” said Head Coach Lane Pace, who is beginning his fifth year coaching the Lancers. “Our incoming players have shown they can definitely play and contribute, and Samantha Katz might be playing the best golf of her career.”
CBU returns three of the five players who competed in last year’s NAIA National Championship.
Nathalie Silva, who won the national tournament as a freshman, along with three-time NAIA All-American Adriana Niclotti lead the way for CBU. Silva and Niclotti are currently second and third on the career scoring average list for the Lancers. Niclotti has six tournament wins in her illustrious career and Silva won both the national tournament and the national qualifier last season.
Katz also returns from last season’s squad and is averaging nearly five strokes below her career scoring average in this year’s three-tournament fall season. Katz, who is in her fourth season, has a 78.00 average and has already shot a career-low 74 in the opening tournament of the season. Sara Koizumi, who has played in nine tournaments for the Lancers, also returns.
Freshman Kirsten Keyser played in all three tournaments this fall averaging 81.00 in her six rounds played. In her very first collegiate round, Keyser led the team with a 78 at the Mountain Shootout in Flagstaff, Ariz. CBU also adds incoming transfer Samantha Roberts, one of the top players for Irvine Valley College over the past two years.
“The ranking is a great honor and exciting, but it’s not necessarily the one we want,” said Pace. “We are shooting for the top spot in May, when the national tournament comes around. This team has worked very hard and will continue to do so until we reach that ultimate goal.”
The Lancers got 11 first-place votes in the poll, earning 454 points. Shorter (Ga.) is second with three first-place votes and 432 points, while Embry-Riddle (Fla.) rounds out the top three with two first-place votes and 427 points. Bethel (Ind.) also received a first-place vote in the No. 5 spot.
After finishing last season ranked third and earning a third-place finish at the national tournament, CBU’s combination of returning talent and solid incoming players helped garner the No. 1 ranking.
“It helps when you have a three-time All-American and the individual National Champion coming back,” said Head Coach Lane Pace, who is beginning his fifth year coaching the Lancers. “Our incoming players have shown they can definitely play and contribute, and Samantha Katz might be playing the best golf of her career.”
CBU returns three of the five players who competed in last year’s NAIA National Championship.
Nathalie Silva, who won the national tournament as a freshman, along with three-time NAIA All-American Adriana Niclotti lead the way for CBU. Silva and Niclotti are currently second and third on the career scoring average list for the Lancers. Niclotti has six tournament wins in her illustrious career and Silva won both the national tournament and the national qualifier last season.
Katz also returns from last season’s squad and is averaging nearly five strokes below her career scoring average in this year’s three-tournament fall season. Katz, who is in her fourth season, has a 78.00 average and has already shot a career-low 74 in the opening tournament of the season. Sara Koizumi, who has played in nine tournaments for the Lancers, also returns.
Freshman Kirsten Keyser played in all three tournaments this fall averaging 81.00 in her six rounds played. In her very first collegiate round, Keyser led the team with a 78 at the Mountain Shootout in Flagstaff, Ariz. CBU also adds incoming transfer Samantha Roberts, one of the top players for Irvine Valley College over the past two years.
“The ranking is a great honor and exciting, but it’s not necessarily the one we want,” said Pace. “We are shooting for the top spot in May, when the national tournament comes around. This team has worked very hard and will continue to do so until we reach that ultimate goal.”
The Lancers got 11 first-place votes in the poll, earning 454 points. Shorter (Ga.) is second with three first-place votes and 432 points, while Embry-Riddle (Fla.) rounds out the top three with two first-place votes and 427 points. Bethel (Ind.) also received a first-place vote in the No. 5 spot.
