NAIA Men's Golf Top 25 Poll Announced
CU No. 15, CRB No. 24
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the 39th time in program history, the Stars of Oklahoma City are atop the NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Friday. The top team gathered 11 first-place votes and 489 points en route to reclaiming the No. 1 position.
The Stars own the most appearances in men’s golf at the top of the poll since 2000 (39), and today’s top billing is the first for the school since the Postseason Poll on May 24, 2013.
Oklahoma City has been dominant over its last four events, claiming first in each. Most recently, the Stars ran away from the competition at the Battle at Primm by 21-strokes at Primm Valley Gulf Club on March 24 in Primm Valley, Nev.
Two Oklahoma City golfers tied for first and added a third in the top five on the par 72, 7,131-yard course – Anthony Marchesani and Jamie Warman tied for the individual crown. Marchesani, a junior from Rosebud, Victoria, Australia, provided a 71-68-67–206, while Warman a junior from Perth, Australia, turned in a 66-70-70–206.
Matthew Cheung, a sophomore from Brisbane, Australia, finished third with a 72-72-64–208.
No. 2 William Woods (Mo.) (477 points) garnered four first-place votes after falling one spot from last week. The Owls had been the top-ranked group the last two releases.
In third position is Coastal Georgia (474 points and the final three first-place votes), No. 4 British Columbia (457 points) and No. 5 Wayland Baptist (Texas) (425 points) finish up the top five of the poll.
Minimal movement took place within the ranking this week, but Northwood (Fla.) made the most positive noise, moving from No. 16 to No. 13. Conversely, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) dropped from No. 21 to No. 25, the most of any program.
No. 16 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) was the only newcomer to the Top 25 this week, as it vaulted into a top-20 position.
The Sun Conference leads all leagues with five teams represented in the poll – No. 7 Johnson & Wales (Fla.), No. 9 USC Beaufort, Northwood (Fla.), No. 14 Webber International (Fla.), and No. 20 Thomas (Ga.).
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups.
For the entire 2015 NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Top 25 Poll ratings calendar, click here. The third regular-season rating will be released on April 10.
Notes: (All information dates back to 2000) By earning the top spot, Oklahoma City snapped William Woods’ (Mo.) streak of two-straight No. 1 appearances… 10 teams have been No. 1 all-time… Oklahoma City leads the NAIA with 39 all-time No. 1 rankings, followed by former member Oklahoma Christian (28) and Texas Wesleyan (5)… Only Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Coastal Georgia appeared at No. 1 in 2014… No. 2 Oklahoma City has never been ranked outside of the top five… Oklahoma City (2010, 2004, 2003, 2002) is the only Preseason No. 1 team to go on to win the National Championships during the same season.
2015 NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches Top 25 Poll – No. 2 (March 27)
|
RANK |
LAST |
SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES |
TOTAL POINTS |
|
1 |
2 |
Oklahoma City (11) |
489 |
|
2 |
1 |
William Woods (Mo.) (4) |
477 |
|
3 |
4 |
Coastal Georgia (3) |
474 |
|
4 |
3 |
British Columbia |
457 |
|
5 |
5 |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
425 |
|
6 |
7 |
Cal State San Marcos |
422 |
|
7 |
6 |
Johnson & Wales (Fla.) |
407 |
|
8 |
8 |
Texas Wesleyan |
376 |
|
9 |
9 |
USC Beaufort (S.C.) |
370 |
|
10 |
11 |
Dalton State (Ga.) |
351 |
|
11 |
10 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
334 |
|
12 |
12 |
Victoria (B.C.) |
333 |
|
13 |
16 |
Northwood (Fla.) |
287 |
|
14 |
14 |
Webber International (Fla.) |
262 |
|
15 |
13 |
Concordia (Ore.) |
261 |
|
16 |
NR |
Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) |
254 |
|
17 |
14 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
253 |
|
18 |
18 |
Mobile (Ala.) |
212 |
|
19 |
17 |
Mount Mercy (Iowa) |
208 |
|
20 |
22 |
Thomas (Ga.) |
197 |
|
21 |
18 |
Tennessee Wesleyan |
189 |
|
21 |
20 |
Union (Ky.) |
189 |
|
23 |
23 |
The Master's (Calif.) |
147 |
|
24 |
24 |
Corban (Ore.) |
117 |
|
25 |
21 |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
88 |
|
|
Others receiving votes: Houston-Victoria (Texas) 76; Warner (Fla.) 52; Bethany (Kan.) 32; Faulkner (Ala.) 30; Milligan (Tenn.) 29; Oklahoma Wesleyan 28; Texas at Brownsville 23; AIB (Iowa) 17; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 16; Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 15; Arizona Christian 14; Midland (Neb.) 14; Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 13; St. Francis (Ill.) 7; Culver-Stockton (Mo.)