The Red Leafs will be looking to repeat what they accomplished in 2016 and 2017 when they last claimed consecutive GNAC championships and looked poised to make a strong run at the title this year. Heading into the tournament, Simon Fraser leads the conference with an average of 303.8 strokes per round and is ranked No. 54 in the Clippd rankings as of April 16. The Red Leafs have not finished outside of the top 10 as a team through eight events this season and have amassed six top-five results, including two first-place finishes.

Of the five golfers SFU is bringing to Coeur d’Alene, four rank among the top 10 GNAC golfers in terms of stroke average with none better than sophomore Meera Minhas this season. The Burnaby, B.C., native has compiled a conference-leading 74.8 stroke average through 17 rounds this season on the way to five top-10 finishes. Those results include three top-five marks and a tie for first at the Southern Colorado Open on March 24.

Freshman Dana Smith follows Minhas with a 74.9 stroke average through 15 rounds to rank second in the GNAC. Smith has picked up a pair of top-five finishes this season at the Western Washington Invitational and the HPU Sharks Shootout. Junior Kassie Muanyam is the latest Red Leaf to add her name to the conference’s list of tournament winners with victory at the Sonoma State Invitational on April 8-9 and ranks third on the team and fifth in the GNAC with a 76.2 stroke average. Sophomore Anaya Bhandal checks in at No. 8 in the conference with a 77.9 average.

Northwest Nazarene could prove to be one of the top challengers for title honors this season as it comes into the GNAC Championships with a 312.9 stroke average that ranks third in the conference and is ranked No. 76 in the latest Clippd rankings. The Nighthawks will be looking to claim their first GNAC title in program history next week after a regular season where they notched six top-10 results, including a win at their own NNU Nighthawk Invitational on April 12-13.

Senior Madison Gridley has been the top golfer for NNU in the regular season, averaging 76.2 strokes per round to lead the team and rank fourth in the conference. Gridley has notched four top-10 finishes in eight tournaments this season, including a win at the NNU Nighthawk Invitational. Junior Christine Cho follows Gridley with a 78.6 stroke average that ranks second on the team and 11th in the league while freshman Tora Timinsky will make her first GNAC Championships appearance after averaging 83.4 strokes per round in the regular season.

The all-time GNAC leader with seven tournament titles in program history, Western Washington comes into this year’s edition of the event looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. The Vikings come into the tournament with a 310.2 stroke average that ranks second in the conference behind only the Red Leafs and are No. 77 in the latest Clippd rankings, just one place behind NNU. Western Washington has notched four top-10 finishes this season, including top-five results at its own Western Washington Invitational and the Sonoma State Invitational.

The Vikings are led by sophomore Emma Worgum with a 76.5 stoke average through 15 rounds that ranks sixth in the conference. In seven events this season, Worgum has picked up a pair of top-10 finishes, including second place at the Sonoma State Invitational where she tied the program single-round record with a 4-under-par-68. Fellow sophomore Lauren Lee ranks second for WWU and eighth in the GNAC with a stroke average of 78. Senior Claire Moon will also make her return to the GNAC Championships with a 79.3 average that ranks 14th in the conference.

Saint Martin’s made a strong run to second at the 2023 GNAC Championships behind Bruland’s stellar individual success and comes into this year’s tournament aiming for its first conference title. The Saints check in at No. 115 in the latest Clippd rankings and are fourth in the GNAC with a 315.9 stroke average. Through the regular season, SMU has picked up a trio of top-10 results, including third place at the NNU Nighthawk Invitational last time out.

While Bruland comes into this year’s GNAC Championships with a winning history, Saint Martin’s top golfer coming into the tournament is fellow sophomore Kelsie Inouye after finishing runner-up to Bruland at the 2023 edition. The Aiea, Hawaii, native leads the team and ranks third in the conference with a 76.2 stroke average heading into the postseason and has notched a pair of top-10 finishes. Bruland follows Inouye with a 76.7 average that ranks seventh in the GNAC while junior Hannah White checks in at No. 3 on the team and No. 12 in conference with a 79.1 average.

Montana State Billings is also looking for its first GNAC title as it comes in the conference championships with a 330.1 stroke average and is ranked No. 133 in the latest Clippd rankings. The Yellowjackets have picked up four top-five finishes this season, including a pair of second-place results at the Hardrocker Invitational and the Beartooth Invitational to open the season.

Sophomore Hannah Adams will be the top golfer representing the ‘Jackets a the GNAC Championships as she comes into the tournament with an 82.3 stroke average through 15 rounds this season. Junior Tatum York-Bement follows Adams with an 83.1 average while sophomore Haylee Adams will make it two years in a row that the Adams sisters represent Montana State Billings at the conference championships.

The GNAC Championships begin Monday at 8:58 a.m. (Pacific) with the second and final round beginning on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. (Pacific). The team champion will receive the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.