NAIA Coaches' Poll

Williamsburg, KY – After recording a runner-up finish at the Mid-South Conference Championships and placing 12th at the 2025 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships, the University of the Cumberlands women's golf team opens the 2025-26 season ranked 11th in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Friday afternoon by the national office. This is the 13th consecutive year that the Pats, who tallied 247 points, have been ranked in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

The Patriots are coming off a strong 2024-25 campaign in which they captured a tournament title at the LTU Heritage Hill Collegiate, posted five runner-up finishes, and advanced to the NAIA National Championships for the 12th straight season. UC capped off the year with consistent play at nationals, carding a 1,242 (+90) over four rounds at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, MI, to finish 12th overall. 

At the conference level, Cumberlands tallied a 928 (+64) to place runner-up at the Mid-South Conference Championships, finishing 22 strokes ahead of third place. The Patriots had two top-five finishers at the event, while Head Coach Aaron Watkins was named MSC Coach of the Year. 

UC returns four golfers from its national championship lineup, led by junior Ainslee Cruce, who tied for 36th at nationals and earned MSC First Team All-Conference honors after finishing fourth at the MSC Championships. Cruce, a Bowling Green, KY native, averaged 76.1 over 29 rounds last season while posting four top-five finishes. 

Joining Cruce is junior Atchariya Thanaudomkul, who placed 52nd at nationals and earned All-Tournament honors with a fifth-place finish at the MSC Championships. Thanaudomkul, a two-time MSC First Team All-Conference selection, recorded multiple top-10 finishes throughout the season. 

Senior Ginevra Capo brings veteran leadership to the lineup after earning First Team All-Conference honors for the second time in her career. Capo finished 59th at nationals and carded six birdies during the championship. 

Also returning is junior McKenzie Trautman, who placed 66th at nationals and earned Second Team All-Conference recognition after five top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish at the MSC Fall Preview. 

Returners on the roster are senior Jenna Pike and sophomore Breanna Trautman. Pike enters her final collegiate season after being named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and earning MSC Academic All-Conference honors last year. She competed in three tournaments and nine rounds, averaging 87.1 per round, and carded a season-best +12 twice, including at the MSC Fall Invite, while sinking six birdies on the season. Breanna looks to build on a promising freshman year where she competed in four tournaments and 12 rounds, averaging 83.0 per round. The younger Trautman notched a 13th-place finish at the Patriots Invite, carded a season-best 81 (+8), and sank five birdies on the year. 

In addition to the returners, Cumberlands welcomes three newcomers to the roster, adding both talent and depth as they look to make an immediate impact. 

The program will also benefit from the return of Emily Allen, who closed her playing career last season with a tie for 36th at nationals before joining the staff as a Graduate Assistant Coach. Allen, a three-time MSC All-Conference honoree, brings valuable leadership and championship experience to support Coach Watkins in his seventh season. 

Cumberlands is one of multiple Mid-South programs featured in the preseason poll, joining Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at 9th, Cumberland (Tenn.) at 22nd, and Bethel (Tenn.) receiving votes. 

The Patriots will open their 2025-26 season on September 8th and 9th in Indianapolis, IN at Indiana Wesleyan's Rohrman Invite.  

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.