Northwest Nazarene University Men's Golf

Fred Sutton enters his fourth year as the head golf coach at Northwest Nazarene in the 2025-26 season. In 2024-25, Sutton's men's team placed third at the GNAC Championships and the women's time finished fifth. The Nighthawks' efforts were highlighted in a big way by individual performances, however, as Ben Mulder claimed the individual GNAC title on the men's side, becoming the first golfer in program history to win medalist honors at the GNAC Championships. On the women's side, Christine Cho just narrowly missed the women's title, finishing as the runner-up to match the women's program's best individual finish at a conference championships. Mulder was named the GNAC Men's Golfer of the Year and qualified for NCAA Regionals as an individual, where he tied for 52nd out of 110 participants. Cho also earned First Team All-GNAC honors and Kasey Gaff received a Second Team All-GNAC nod. During the 2023-24 year, the women's program finished third at the GNAC Championships for the second year in a row. On the men's side, senior Grayson Giboney earned the highest GNAC Championships placing of any NNU golfer to date, with a runner-up finish and qualification for the NCAA West Regional. Giboney was named First Team All-Conference, while on the women's side Madison Gridley earned First Team All-GNAC and Christine Cho a Second Team honor. In his first year in 2022-23, both the men's and women's programs placed third at the GNAC Championships. On the women's side, Sutton coached the first athlete in the women's program history to qualify for the NCAA West Regional when Elle McCord made the cut as an individual. McCord was also named the GNAC Player of the Year and First Team All-GNAC as a freshman and was joined by two other Nighthawks, Christine Cho and Madison Gridley, that earned Second Team honors. On the men's side, Cole Evarts received a Second Team All-GNAC selection. Prior to becoming the head coach of the Nighthawks, Sutton spent ten years serving as an assistant coach with the NNU men's and women's programs. In addition to his assistant coaching duties over the last decade, Sutton has served NNU as a professor of accounting. He has also given his time as a US Kids Golf Tour Director since 2015. Sutton also has previous collegiate head coaching experience as the Head Men's Golf Coach for Victor Valley College from 2003-04. He is a PGA Class A Professional and has had a lot of success in his career as a player. He played Division I golf for Long Beach State before spending nine years on several different tours including events on different minitours, Canadian Tour, Nike Tour / Nationwide Tour (Korn Fiery Tour), and the PGA Tour. Highlights of his playing career include qualifying for the Sectionals of the US Open in 2019, an alternate for the PGA National Championship in 2020, named the Inland Empire Player of the Year in 2004, and winning over 50 Professional Tournaments. He also recently qualified for the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch Golf Club in Frisco, TX beginning April 28, 2024. He finished 4th out of 57 players in the Rocky Mountain PGA Section that encompasses parts of 5 different states to earn the final qualifying spot for the event. He has qualified for the past 4 PGA Professional Championships.  Sutton received a Bachelors Degree in Finance from Long Beach State before going on to earn his MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management and a Doctorate of Business Administration, concentrated in Accounting, from Argosy University. Sutton lives in Nampa and has three children, Jadyn, Hunter, and Maci.

Nicholes begins his begins his 4th season with the Crusaders in 2015. A 1996 graduated of Montana State University with a bachelor degree in Business Administration, the Billings, Mont., native turned professional in 1995 and was elected to membership into the PGA in 2000. Scott currently is the head golf professional at Ridgecrest Golf Club, where he has worked since 1999. "I am married to my best friend, Angie, and we have three wonderful children: Michaela, Jackson, and Carter."

Stensgaard began his 20th year at NNU in 2016 and serves as the Crusaders assistant athletic director and NNUs Head Mens and Womens Golf Coach. In addition to the duties of Head Mens and Womens Golf Coach, Craig is the liaison between coaches and Sodexo, which maintains NNUs grounds and facilities. Craig helps oversee indoor and outdoor facility maintenance and upgrades working in coordination with Sodexo. Craig also leads NNUs annual The Legends golf tournament which raises money for NNU Athletics while honor community members who have had a long and lasting impact on Crusader Athletics assists with game management and supervises the Sports Information Office.   Coach Stensgaard was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's golf Coach of the Year in 2014 after his team captured the GNAC men's golf championship in a sudden-death playoff. Following the team championship, senior Nick Hardy earned an individual selection to the NCAA Division II West Regional Championship in Austin, Texas.  Hardy continues a legacy of all-conference Crusaders that have earned post-season recognition and championship selections under coach Stensgaard. A 1992 graduate of NNC, Craig served as co-captain of the Crusader baseball team (with close friend Tony Nelson) during his senior season in 1990-91, having an enjoyable four-year career at NNU.  "My career in an NNU uniform was, and continues to be, an important part of my life.  The lessons learned and experiences I had were great.  I can only hope to provide that same experience for my players.  I consider myself a lifetime Crusader." Craig spent three years working in the golf business as an assistant golf professional following college, working with local Treasure Valley PGA professionals John Lewis and Ken Sparks.  "My time as an assistant pro was a great learning experience.  John Lewis is a skilled teacher of the game of golf and I owe most of my mechanical knowledge of the game to him.  He really got me started into the theory of the golf swing, something I still love to study and work with." "The relationships and foundations we form with the golf program here at NNU are tremendous," commented coach Stensgaard.  "We play a great schedule each and every year, and continue to improve and become more competitive in the West Region of the NCAA Division II." He earned his B.A. in office administration at NNU and his endorsement in secondary education at the University of Idaho in accounting and business/computer education.  In the summer of 2004, he completed his Masters of Physical Education graduate degree in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University. Returning to NNU in a full-time capacity 18 years ago as men's golf coach and assistant basketball coach, Craig served as an assistant basketball coach for five seasons and as the head coach of the NNU JV basketball team from 1997-2001.   While teaching middle school computer science and serving as the athletic director at West Middle School in Nampa, Craig coached part-time with the men's basketball program from 1997-1999 and was then asked to join the staff full-time in 1999 to continue coaching basketball and start the men's golf program in the fall of 1999. Following the passing of beloved Sports Information Director Gil Craker, Craig transitioned into the role of Sports Information Director from 2002 to 2012 and was named an Assistant Athletic Director in 2008.   With the addition of Women's Golf to the slate of Crusader sports in the fall of 2012, Craig shifted to Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach and continues to serve as an Assistant Athletic Director. Craig and wife LeAnn (Stallcop), a 1992 NNU graduate, have been married for 22 years and are the proud parents of two sons -- Jared Tom (J.T.), 19, and Jayden, 16.  LeAnn also serves at NNU as a member of the Social Work faculty and works in private practice in Nampa.   Return to Staff Craig Stensgaard Assistant Athletic Director - Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach Craig Stensgaard began his 20th year at NNU in 2016 and serves as the Crusaders assistant athletic director and NNUs Head Mens and Womens Golf Coach. In addition to the duties of Head Mens and Womens Golf Coach, Craig is the liaison between coaches and Sodexo, which maintains NNUs grounds and facilities. Craig helps oversee indoor and outdoor facility maintenance and upgrades working in coordination with Sodexo. Craig also leads NNUs annual The Legends golf tournament which raises money for NNU Athletics while honor community members who have had a long and lasting impact on Crusader Athletics assists with game management and supervises the Sports Information Office.   Coach Stensgaard was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's golf Coach of the Year in 2014 after his team captured the GNAC men's golf championship in a sudden-death playoff. Following the team championship, senior Nick Hardy earned an individual selection to the NCAA Division II West Regional Championship in Austin, Texas.  Hardy continues a legacy of all-conference Crusaders that have earned post-season recognition and championship selections under coach Stensgaard. A 1992 graduate of NNC, Craig served as co-captain of the Crusader baseball team (with close friend Tony Nelson) during his senior season in 1990-91, having an enjoyable four-year career at NNU.  "My career in an NNU uniform was, and continues to be, an important part of my life.  The lessons learned and experiences I had were great.  I can only hope to provide that same experience for my players.  I consider myself a lifetime Crusader." Craig spent three years working in the golf business as an assistant golf professional following college, working with local Treasure Valley PGA professionals John Lewis and Ken Sparks.  "My time as an assistant pro was a great learning experience.  John Lewis is a skilled teacher of the game of golf and I owe most of my mechanical knowledge of the game to him.  He really got me started into the theory of the golf swing, something I still love to study and work with." "The relationships and foundations we form with the golf program here at NNU are tremendous," commented coach Stensgaard.  "We play a great schedule each and every year, and continue to improve and become more competitive in the West Region of the NCAA Division II." He earned his B.A. in office administration at NNU and his endorsement in secondary education at the University of Idaho in accounting and business/computer education.  In the summer of 2004, he completed his Masters of Physical Education graduate degree in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University. Returning to NNU in a full-time capacity 18 years ago as men's golf coach and assistant basketball coach, Craig served as an assistant basketball coach for five seasons and as the head coach of the NNU JV basketball team from 1997-2001.   While teaching middle school computer science and serving as the athletic director at West Middle School in Nampa, Craig coached part-time with the men's basketball program from 1997-1999 and was then asked to join the staff full-time in 1999 to continue coaching basketball and start the men's golf program in the fall of 1999. Following the passing of beloved Sports Information Director Gil Craker, Craig transitioned into the role of Sports Information Director from 2002 to 2012 and was named an Assistant Athletic Director in 2008.   With the addition of Women's Golf to the slate of Crusader sports in the fall of 2012, Craig shifted to Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach and continues to serve as an Assistant Athletic Director. Craig and wife LeAnn (Stallcop), a 1992 NNU graduate, have been married for 22 years and are the proud parents of two sons -- Jared Tom (J.T.), 19, and Jayden, 16.  LeAnn also serves at NNU as a member of the Social Work faculty and works in private practice in Nampa.   Return to Staff