Tweet #theGAC  RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Thursday, the Great American Conference announced the results of its 2023-24 GAC women’s golf preseason coaches’ poll. Henderson State received all nine available first-place votes from the league’s head coaches to enter the fall as a unanimous favorite.

Last season, the Reddies won the GAC Championships by 50 strokes, won their second-straight Central Region Championship and matched the best performance by a GAC school at the National Championships by reaching the semifinals of the match play portion. While two-time Player of the Year Gracen Blount graduated, they return four All-GAC honorees in unanimous First-Team selections Allie Bianchi and Jinna Boonbumroongsuk, Freshman of the Year Lily Nelson and Second-Team performer Daphney Tilton. Nelson won the medalist honor at the GAC Championships by a record 17 shots. Boonbumroongsuk earned Second-Team WGCA All-America honors while Bianchi received Honorable Mention All-America accolades.

Harding and Southwestern Oklahoma State tied for second. The Lady Bisons registered their best showing at the GAC Championships in 10 years by finishing second. They earned their third all-time selection to the Central Region Championships. They bring back two 2023 All-GAC golfers in Alicia Martinez and Pilar Martinez. The Bulldogs also return two All-GAC selections in Megan Brown and Rebecca Lau.

Oklahoma Baptist edged out Arkansas Tech by two points for fourth place. As a freshman, Morgan Becker secured a spot on the All-GAC First Team and qualified for the NCAA Central Region Championships - where she finished sixth. The Golden Suns’ Ellen Spigner earned Second-Team All-GAC honors, finished sixth at the GAC Championships and 12th at the Central Region Championships after claiming an individual berth to the event.

Southern Arkansas finished sixth, followed by Southern Nazarene. The Muleriders’ Emma Hester and the Crimson Storm’s Hannah Torres return following Honorable Mention All-GAC seasons.

Arkansas-Monticello and Northwestern Oklahoma State tied for eighth, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma State. All-GAC Second Team selection Chiara Sturaro returns for the Blossoms. Southeastern fields a women’s program for the first time in school history.

Six schools - Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Monticello, Oklahoma Baptist, Southern Arkansas, Southern Nazarene and SWOSU - will compete in the Central Region Fall Preview - hosted by the Bulldogs - on Tuesday, September 5. One week later, Harding heads to the Northeastern State Classic. The Reddies take to the course for the first time at Dallas Baptist’s Classic on Sunday, September 17. Northwestern Oklahoma State tees it up at the Drury Invitational.