SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota junior Katie Bartlett has been named a Golfer to Watch as part of the preseason poll announced by the Summit League Thursday.
 
Bartlett, hailing from Pierre, South Dakota, was the Coyotes' top player through five fall events including an individual victory. She averaged 76.7 strokes per round and tallied a pair of rounds under par.
 
She won the Creighton Classic in early October when she shot 1-over-par with 147 strokes.
 
"Katie had a fall season that she should be proud of," head coach Brett Bennett said. "She brings a tremendous attitude towards practice and understands the work that it is going to take to get her game to where she can compete with the best players in this league. I know she will lead her team with her play this spring from the confidence that was built this fall."
 
As a team, the Coyotes were tabbed fifth in the poll of coaches, which favored Denver with 64 points. South Dakota garnered 39 points, placing behind Denver, South Dakota State, Oral Roberts and North Dakota State.
 
South Dakota picked up the team victory at the Loyola Fall Invitational tallying 912 strokes over three rounds to top the field of 12 teams. The Coyotes also had a pair of runner-up finishes at the UNO Invitational and Creighton Classic.
 
The Coyotes enter the spring portion of the season ranked fourth in the league with a stroke average of 304.9. At the Golfweek Program Challenge, taking place Sept. 9-11 in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the Coyotes set a program record for low score with 293 strokes in the final round.
 
"We know our abilities and those abilities will compete with any team in the Summit League," Bennett added. "The key is always putting three rounds together, which we have proven we can accomplish from our play in the fall."
 
The spring portion of the season is set to begin Feb. 24-26 at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Spring Classic in Charleston, South Carolina. The Summit League Championship is slated for April 21-23 in Newton, Kansas.