BILLINGS, Mont. — After sweeping the men's and women's Frontier Conference Championships last season, both Rocky golf programs have been picked as the favorites to repeat as conference champions in the 2026–27 coaches' preseason polls while also capturing spots in the NAIA Preseason Top 25.
No. 18 men's golf tabbed as Frontier favorites
Following a 22-stroke victory at the Frontier Conference Championships, as well as a 20th-place finish at the NAIA National Championships last season, the Battlin' Bears men's team earned six first-place votes and 49 total points to top the Frontier Conference Preseason Poll. Rocky enters the national stage ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25, standing as the only Frontier Conference squad in the national rankings (Bellevue received votes).
Headlining the Battlin' Bear returners is two-time Frontier Conference champion Kristjan Burkelca, who was also named a Third Team All-American in 2025. Local product Sam Norman also returns to the lineup for his sophomore season, after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2025. Nathan Piers, Adam Hyde-Lay, and Alexander Brester return, all three competing in postseason action a season ago.
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The Battlin' Bears were the only Frontier Conference team to crack the NAIA Preseason Top 25, with Bellevue receiving votes.
2026-27 Frontier Conference men's golf coaches' preseason poll
- 1. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (6) — 49
- 2. Bellevue (Neb.) — 42
- T3. Montana Tech (1) — 31
- T3. Dickinson State (N.D.) — 31
- 5. Mayville State (N.D.) — 26
- 6. Carroll (Mont.) — 24
- 7. Valley City State (N.D.) — 12
- 8. Providence (Mont.) — 9
No. 25 women's golf selected to defend title
After a dominant 30-stroke conference championship effort in 2025, the Battlin' Bears women's team collected six first-place votes to claim the top spot in the Frontier Preseason Poll. Rocky tied for No. 25 in the national NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, the sole Frontier women's program featured, after finishing 22nd at last season's national tournament.
Alivia Webinger, Catalina Garcia, and Kirsten Smith all finished inside the top 15 overall at last season's Frontier Conference Championship and will headline the returners for the Battlin' Bears.
Rocky was the only women's golf team in the Frontier to slot into the top 25.
2026-27 Frontier Conference women's golf coaches' preseason poll
- 1. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (6) — 49
- 2. Bellevue (Neb.) (1) — 42
- 3. Carroll (Mont.) — 32
- 4. Dickinson State (N.D.) — 31
- 5. Montana Tech — 30
- 6. Mayville State (N.D.) — 18
- T7. Providence (Mont.) — 11
- T7. Valley City State (N.D.) — 11
