OGDEN, Utah (April 17, 2017) - The Big Sky Conference has had several strong individual seasons in its women’s golf history, but some rise to the top.
For Northern Arizona sophomore Sofia Anokhina, the season has been a remarkable show of consistency and skill. The Moscow, Russia native earned conference weekly honors on three occasions this past season, racking up high finishes and tournament wins.
Monday, Anokhina was recognized by the Big Sky Conference as the 2017 Big Sky Player of the Year. Anokhina was the league’s top-ranked player by both Golfstat and Golf Week, as well as having the best score in the league when adjusted to par. The sophomore also was named to the league’s All-Big Sky First Team.
It was two southern schools that dominated the individual player awards, as Southern Utah freshman Kamonwan (Poy) Prasurtwong earned the league’s Freshman of the Year award. Prasurtwong earned #BigSkyGolf weekly honors three times during the season, along with placing on the league’s All-Big Sky First Team. Prasurtwong is a native of Thailand.
A pair of Idaho Vandals were also recognized on the All-Big Sky First Team, as teammates Sophie Hausmann and Michelle Kim made the list. Hausmann, who won the league title in 2016, and Kim, the reigning Freshman of the Year, have led Idaho to the top seed in the 2017 league tourney. Idaho won the 2016 league crown at Boulder Creek.
Sacramento State’s Julia Becker also earned All-Big Sky First Team honors, after earning weekly honors twice during the season. Becker tied for first recently at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic.
The Big Sky Conference used a new system to determine the all-conference list in 2016-17, using rankings. The teams and awards were selected following the conclusion of the regular season, using a points system based on the Golfstat National Ranking, the Golf Week National Ranking and the adjusted score to par provided by Golfstat.
The five lowest point totals were named to the First Team, the next five lowest were named to the Second Team, the next five lowest were named to the Third Team and five more were named Honorable Mention. The player who posted the lowest score earned Player of the Year honors, while the freshman player who posted the lowest score earned the Freshman of the Year honors.
Players who were recognized with All-Big Sky Second Team honors included: Amy Hasenoehrl, Idaho; Taylor Viquelia, Southern Utah; Tara Finigan, Portland State; Valerie Hernandez, Portland State; and Clara Moyano, Idaho. Viquelia and Finigan both earned weekly honors once during the season.
The league’s All-Big Sky Third Team included: Morgan Sahm, Northern Colorado; Astha Madan, Sacramento State; Sofie Babic, Sacramento State; Nishtha Madan, Sacramento State; and Jaylee Tait, Montana State. Honorable Mention golfers were: Kaceelyn Pouttu, Weber State; Kendall Gray, Idaho; Madalyn Ardueser, Eastern Washington; Krissy Peterson, Portland State; and Jasmine Cabajar, Portland State.
#BigSkyGolf continues this week, as the women’s programs participate in the 2017 Big Sky Women’s Golf Championships, hosted by Eastern Washington University. For the second consecutive season, the tournament will be played at the par-72 Boulder Creek Golf Club, utilizing the Desert Hawk and Coyote Run nines at the par-72 facility.
The 2017 Jeff Smith Big Sky Women’s Golf Coach of the Year award will be granted after the completion of the 2017 league championships.
| 2017 #BigSkyGolf All-Conference Team |
| Special Awards |
| Most Valuable Player |
Sofia Anokhina, Northern Arizona |
| Freshman of the Year |
Kamonwan (Poy) Prasurtwong, Southern Utah |
| First Team |
| Sofia Anokhina, Northern Arizona |
| Sophie Hausmann, Idaho |
| Michelle Kim, Idaho |
| Kamonwan (Poy) Prasurtwong, Southern Utah |
| Julia Becker, Sacramento State |
| Second Team |
| Amy Hasenoehrl, Idaho |
| Taylor Viquelia, Southern Utah |
| Tara Finigan, Portland State |
| Valerie Hernandez, Portland State |
| Clara Moyano, Idaho |
| Third Team |
| Morgan Sahm, Northern Colorado |
| Astha Madan, Sacramento State |
| Sofie Babic, Sacramento State |
| Nsitha Madan, Sacramento State |
| Jaylee Tait, Montana State |
| Honorable Mention |
| Kaceelyn Pouttu, Weber State |
| Kendall Gray, Idaho |
| Madalyn Ardueser, Eastern Washington |
| Krissy Peterson, Portland State |
| Jasmine Cabajar, Portland State |