BOULDER CITY, Nev. - Idaho senior Sophie Hausmann was named the Big Sky Women's Golf Player of the Year Thursday, for the second consecutive year. Hausmann also became a four-time first-team All-Big Sky honoree, leading four Vandals who earned all-conference accolades. Valeria Patino joined Hausmann on the first team, while Michelle Kim (second team) and Vicky Tsai (honorable mention) also received recognition. The Vandals will seek to defend their Big Sky title beginning Friday.

The All-Big Sky teams and awards were selected following the conclusion of the regular season, using a points system based on the GolfStat National Ranking, the Golfweek National Ranking and the adjusted score-to-par provided by GolfStat. Hausmann led the conference in each of the three categories to take home player of the year honors. 

Hausmann enters the conference championships ranked No. 50 in the GolfStat National Rankings, the only Big Sky competitor in the top 150. She has finished in the top 25 of all 10 events this season, including eight top-10 results and five top-five showings. The senior from Nottuln, Germany, has shot at or under par in 15 of her 28 rounds this season. She currently holds a career-best 72.0 scoring average, within reach of Kayla Mortellaro's single-season school record of 71.97.

In addition to becoming the fourth repeat Player of the Year in Big Sky history, Hausmann is the league's first four-time first-team honoree since Northern Arizona's Sophia Choi accomplished the feat from 2005-08. The 2016 and 2018 individual conference champion will vie to become the league's first three-time champion.

Patino was honored as one of the top five golfers in the Big Sky with first-team recognition. The sophomore holds a 74.3 scoring average this year and has achieved six top-25 finishes in 10 events this season. Patino earned second-team honors last season as a freshman.

Kim claimed her fourth career All-Big Sky honor with a second-team nod. The senior was a first-team selection each of her first two seasons, followed by a third-team honor as a junior. This year, Kim carries a 75.2 scoring average and has secured three top-15 finishes. Last season, she responded to the third-team award by finishing runner-up at the conference championships.

Tsai took home an honorable mention award thanks to her 76.1 scoring average. The freshman has played in all 10 tournaments during her debut season, including her first career win at the Mission Hills Invitational to start the spring season.

The 2019 Big Sky Championships tee off Friday, at Boulder Creek Golf Club. Idaho will tee off in the final group of the day, along with Southern Utah and preseason-favorite Sacramento State. The group starts at 9:15 a.m. PT from the first hole. Live scoring will be available at GolfStatResults.com.

2019 Big Sky All-Conference Team
 
Player of the Year: Sophie Hausmann, Idaho
Freshman of the Year: Chanikan (Pluem) Yongyuan, Southern Utah
 
#Denotes Four-Time First Team Honoree
^Denotes Second-Time First Team Honoree
 
First Team
Sophie Hausmann, Idaho#
Chanikan (Pluem) Yongyuan, Southern Utah
Julia Becker, Sacramento State^
Corinne Viden, Sacramento State
Valeria Patino, Idaho
 
Second Team
Sofie Babic, Sacramento State
Jasmine Cabajar, Portland State
Nishtha Madan, Sacramento State
Alexa Clark, Eastern Washington
Michelle Kim, Idaho

Third Team
Beah Cruz, Northern Colorado
Aleksandra Chekalina, Northern Arizona
Valerie Hernandez, Portland State
Kamonwan (Poy) Prasurtwong, Southern Utah
Ashley Croft, Northern Arizona
 
Honorable Mention
Sydney Smith, Sacramento State
Eliska Kocourkova, Northern Arizona
Madalyn Ardueser, Eastern Washington
Vicky Tsai, Idaho
Lexi Keene, Northern Arizona