MINOT, N.D. – It's golf season once again – maybe not here in Minot, but definitely for the Minot State men's and women's golf teams on the road in Arizona.

The Minot State men open their spring season at the Maverick Desert Classic hosted by Minnesota State in Goodyear, Arizona, this Monday and Tuesday, and the Beaver women open the spring at the SMSU Spring Invite hosted by Southwest Minnesota State in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

After four months practicing indoors, the Beaver teams aren't going into this week's action cold, though, as both teams spent the weekend in Arizona playing practice rounds.

"All I hear and see from both teams is how ready they are to compete again," Minot State's coach, Gary Brekhus, said. "Getting out on grass today, we saw a lot of greatness! The courses are in great condition, and the weather is prime golf.

"It's one of the best teams I've seen coming into the spring," Brekhus added. "I'm expecting to see a lot of really good golf over the next three days from the whole field, but especially from us. I'm expecting a top-5 finish from both teams!"

Freshman Kasen Rostad led the way for the men's team during the fall, shooting a low round of 69, turning in a pair of top-10 finishes, and averaging a team-low 74.6 strokes per round over 10 rounds.

On the women's side, senior Zoe Banack led the way in her final season as she shot a career-best round of 76 at the MSU/CSP Fall Brawl, turned in a top-5 finish at the Marauders Tournament, and averaged a team-best 82.3 strokes per round for 10 rounds.

This week's tournaments in Arizona starts a spring schedule that has both Minot State teams playing in 4 events culminating in the NSIC Championships held in Missouri, April 17-19 for the men, and April 22-24 for the women.