ST. PAUL, Minn.- The first UMAC champions of the 2021 fall season will be named this weekend, and that honor will be awarded to Men's and Women's Golf teams and individuals. Sports during the fall of 2020 were tumultuous and inconsistent so the 2021 fall season has been a breath of fresh air as normalcy has returned.  The UNW Men's and Women's Golf teams wrapped up their regular seasons last weekend and are now busy preparing for the UMAC Championship.

The Championships get started on Thursday, October 7^th and will be a three day event ending on Saturday, October 9^th. The UMAC uses the scenic Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, Minnesota to host the conference championship. Pebble Creek also hosted the UMAC Preview back on September 6^th, so the Eagles golfers will be familiar with the course.

The UMAC released a preview on Wednesday that covered all of the competing teams. The Men's Golf preview can be found here, and the Women's Golf preview can be found here. 

On the men's side, the Eagles have shown flashes that they will be able to compete for the conference championship this weekend. At the UMAC Preview, UNW finished in the top half of the conference taking fourth place by shooting a 338. North Central won the Preview, however, variety at the top of the conference has been the theme throughout the season. North Central, UW-Superior, Northland, and Northwestern have all been battling at the top of the conference. Each team has won an event this season, which will make for an exciting weekend at Pebble Creek.

The highlight of Northwestern's season was winning the UNW invite on September 28^th. This was UNW's one event victory of the season, and it was an impactful one. Seven of the eight UMAC schools were in attendance, UW-Superior was the only team not present, and the Eagles bested North Central by one stroke. AJ Watland (Andover, Minn./AFLBS) led the Eagles that afternoon by shooting a 77 (+5) and finishing fourth overall.

Sticking with the theme of variety, the Eagles have had a lot of different golfers lead them at meets this year. Here are some of the athletes to keep an eye out for this weekend:

Noah Johnson (Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) is the lone senior on the Eagles' squad. He is one of the most decorated golfers in the history of the program. Noah is a two-time 1^st Team All Conference member (2019, 2021) and has won the UMAC Sportsmanship Award twice (2018, 2019). Johnson had a lot of success at Pebble Creek during last year's conference championship. He led the Eagles with a score of 231 (+15) and finished fourth overall in the UMAC. This season, Johnson's average score has been an 81.7. Johnson has shot a 79 twice this season which has been his top mark so far throughout the fall. As a senior, Johnson is familiar with Pebble Creek and may be set to have a big weekend.

Jackson Nyhus (Henning, Minn./Henning) enters this weekend playing the best golf of his season, and of his career for the Eagles. The sophomore has not shot a round in the 80s or higher since September 11^th. During the last four meets of the regular season, Nyhus was locked in, having never shot higher than a 79 during a round. During this stretch, Jackson has scored a 76 (his career best) twice. Nyhus will look to continue his hot streak into the championship weekend.

Max Wilcox (Danville, Iowa/Danville) is another veteran on this team. The junior has experience at Pebble Creek, finishing 19^th by shooting a 251 (+35) in the championship last spring. Wilcox has been having his best season as an Eagle this fall. Staying below the 80 mark in many meets this year, Max has been steady for Northwestern all season. With a season average of 80.8, Wilcox should be in the mix at the top of the pack this weekend at Pebble Creek.

Rounding things out for the Eagles is AJ Watland (Andover, Minn./AFLBS). The junior has been impressive all season long, finishing with the Eagles' top score in multiple meets this season. Watland has cracked the 80 mark twice this year, having his two best rounds of his career back to back at the NCU Invite (78) and the UNW Invite (77). Watland will be an important weapon this weekend for the Eagles as they look to contend for the title.

The Eagles finished second at Pebble Creek in the championship last year, and are looking to move up to that top spot this weekend.

On the women's side, it has been a year to remember. Dominance is the only word that properly describes what the ladies of UNW Golf have done this fall. The Eagles have won every meet they have participated in, and the season was highlighted by setting the school record for the lowest round in school history. The 356 the Eagles shot at the Bethany Lutheran meet was the best round ever played by a Northwestern Women's Golf team.

The Eagles will be confident headed into championship weekend, having won the UMAC Preview at Pebble Creek earlier in the fall. UNW shot a 373 which was good enough to top the second place team, Minnesota-Morris, by eight strokes.

Kelly Van Den Bussche (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) in particular will be feeling right at home at Pebble Creek. The sophomore won the event by shooting an 89. Van Den Bussche was an All-Conference Honorable Mention last season, and has been even better this season. She has shot an 89 twice, and shot her best round at Bethany Lutheran by putting up an 88. Her average score for the season is a 91.3. It will be an exciting weekend for the sophomore at the UMAC Championship.

Mattie Krause (Clear Lake, Iowa/Clear Lake) enjoyed her time at Pebble Creek last season. Finishing fourth by shooting a 265 (+49), the senior will attempt to build on that success this weekend.  Krause has had another strong year, cementing her impressive career as an Eagle. Mattie is averaging an 89.6 per round, and has shot below a 90 in every meet except two. The veteran will be an important piece to the Eagles squad this weekend.

Kirsten Darling (Coon Rapids, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) was another All-Conference Honorable Mention from a year ago who has improved this season. Darling is entering this weekend playing the best golf of her season. The sophomore has shot back to back 89s which marks the two best rounds of her career. Kirsten should be feeling confident as she enters the championship this weekend.

Rounding things out for the Eagles on the women's side is Claire Haakenson (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael Albertville). The freshman has burst onto the scene for UNW by putting in a very strong first season. With an average score of 93.5, she has been a great addition to an already strong Eagles squad. Her career best was an 84 on September 2^nd at the Twin Cities Triangular. Haakenson finished in the top 10 of the UMAC preview earlier in the season, and will look to continue that success at Pebble Creek this weekend.

Last season, the Eagles finished second in the UMAC Championship. After an extremely successful regular season this fall, the Eagles are seeking their first conference championship since 2008.

The UMAC championship starts on Thursday, October 7^th and goes through Saturday, October 9^th. It is free to attend the meet in Becker, Minnesota. Follow along at umacathletics.com and unweagles.com for updates throughout the tournament.