June 29, 2020 
ScoutU 

Throughout her junior golf career, Elise Hoven battled for trophies against the other top players in the state of Wisconsin. But starting in fall 2021, her old rivals will become teammates at North Dakota State University, an NCAA Division I program. 

Hoven recently committed to the Bison, who already feature the top two players from Wisconsin’s 2017 class. After NDSU received word from Hoven (ranked 2nd in the 2021 class), top-ranked recruit Jo Baranczyk joined her best friend in Fargo, ND.

“When other players committed to NDSU, I was always intrigued why they chose it because of its northern location,” Hoven said. “I did a lot of research on the golf and academic aspects of NDSU, and it really interested me. Coach Matt Johnson, the athletic facilities and the girls on the team impressed me. During my visit, NDSU started to check all the boxes I wanted in an academic and athletic experience.” 

Hoven (Cedarburg, Wis.) compiled a spectacular resume that includes 1st-Team All-State and two Conference Player of the Year honors. She won the 2019 Sectional Championship with a 72, while also counting seven top-5 finishes last summer. 

“The competitive level of golf at NDSU was exactly what I was looking for, so I think I will fit right in,” Hoven said. “The goal for the team is to win a Summit League Championship. When I met players who won the 2018 Summit League Championship and then played at the NCAA Regionals, they all said it was an amazing experience.” 

ScoutU’s Jon Feyen started working with Hoven during her sophomore year, and that head start proved to be invaluable. She had the time to receive interest from dozens of schools, including a handful of Division I offers. 

“Elise handled the recruiting process perfectly,” Feyen said. “We were proactive talking with coaches early so she never felt rushed. Her scores continued to improve during high school, leading to a choice between several great options. After going on campus visits and researching their psychology programs, I’m so happy that Elise found a school she loves!” 

Hoven received rave reviews not just from Feyen, but also from numerous coaches and teammates. All her hard work paid off, and now she’s grateful to continue a successful career at the next level. 

“ScoutU and Jon Feyen were helpful for me to gain confidence in my recruiting process,” Hoven said. “They gave me exposure to college golf programs I would not have had otherwise. Jon was very supportive and always ready to answer any questions I had. Thanks for everything (ScoutU) did to help!” 

Rob Hernandez of Wisconsin.Golf contributed to this story