RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech has been voted the favorite to win the 2019 GAC Women's Golf Championship, the league announced on Thursday through the preseason coaches' poll.
 
The Golden Suns have won the previous five conference championships, the most recent with a come-from-behind win over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Allie Weiner used a career-best 67 in Round 3 to earn the first place individual finish. Jacqueline Klemm, WGCA National Freshman of the year and GAC Freshman of the Year tied for third place with GAC Women's Golfer of the Year, Peerada Piddon. Pia Nunbhakdi and Sydney Staton finished in ties for fifth and seventh place, respectively.
 
Tech took second at the NCAA Central Region Championships in their seventh consecutive appearance at the tournament. Piddon won the individual title with her total card of 216. Klemm finished fourth and Nunbhakdi tied for ninth. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships for the fifth time in six years and concluded their season with a 10^th-place finish.
 
The 2019-2020 Golden Suns return seven golfers from last year's roster, including Klemm, Weiner and Staton. Klemm is the first golfer in program history to receive WGCA Division II Freshman of the Year after averaging 74.77 strokes and notching four top 10 finishes in her first season as Golden Sun.  She was named a Division II All-America Honorable Mention and All-Central Region Team by the Women's Golf Coaches Association. 
 
Weiner, Staton Makenzie Douglas were named WGCA All-American Scholars. Staton was also named to the All-Central Region Team and All-GAC Second Team.
 
Six-time GAC Coach of The Year and reigning Division II Golf Pride Central Region Coach of the Year Amy Anderson also welcomes two newcomers to the team, Patranit Chuaychoo from Thailand and Josie Roberson from Maumelle, Ark.
 
The Golden Suns open the 2019-20 season on Sept 23 with the two day Dallas Baptist Invitational at the Robson Ranch Golf Club in Denton, Texas.