OGDEN, Utah – The 2019 Big Sky golf preseason coaches' polls were released Friday, with Idaho's women tabbed second and the men picked to finish third in the league. The Vandal women, the defending Big Sky champions, earned three first-place votes in the poll.
 
Sacramento State was picked to win the women's title, while Northern Colorado was selected to defend its championship on the men's side.
 
Idaho women's golf returns four of the five student-athletes who competed at last year's conference championship, including Sophie Hausmann – the reigning Big Sky Player of the Year. Hausmann won the individual title at the conference championship while fellow returner Michelle Kim took second. The Vandal women have won two of the last three team titles. They were also picked to finish second in the 2018 preseason poll. Sophomore Valeria Patino and junior Laura Gerner also return from last year's lineup at the Big Sky championship and NCAA Regionals.
 
Idaho men's golf was projected to repeat its third-place showing from the 2018 Big Sky Championships. Senior Enrique Marin is the Vandals' top returner. Marin took third at last year's conference tournament and was named All-Big Sky First Team. Sophomore Cole Chrisman took 12th last year in his debut season. Idaho's squad was bolstered this winter by the arrival of two newcomers for the spring semester, including Travis Hansen who transferred from Lewis-Clark State College where he was the Frontier Conference Player of the Year.
 
The spring season is quickly approaching for both programs. The Vandal women begin play Monday (Jan. 28), at the Mission Hills Invitational in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The men get underway Feb. 11, at the Farms Invitational in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
 
2019 Big Sky Men's Golf Preseason Poll
1. Northern Colorado (6) - 36
2. Sacramento State (1) - 31
3. Idaho - 25
4. Binghamton - 20
5. Southern Utah - 17
6. Hartford - 10
7. Weber State - 8
 
2019 Big Sky Women's Golf Preseason Poll
1. Sacramento State (8) – 98
2. Idaho (3) – 92
3. Portland State – 75
4. Northern Arizona – 72
5. Southern Utah – 60
6. Eastern Washington – 56
7. Northern Colorado – 53
8. Montana State – 35
9. Montana – 31
10. Weber State – 23
11. Idaho State - 10