WONDER BOYS RECEIVE 17 VOTES IN PRESEASON GOLF WORLD/
NIKE GOLF DIVISION II PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

        NEW YORK, New York – Arkansas Tech’s Men’s Golf team received 17 votes in the Preseason Golf World/Nike Golf Division II Coaches’ Poll that was released on Wednesday.

The rankings for the Golf World/Nike Golf poll are determined by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and are voted on every three weeks during the season.

In Wednesday’s preseason poll, Tech was one of 31 squads to receive votes. The Wonder Boys ended last season receiving 18 votes in the final Golf World/Nike Golf D-II Coaches Poll.

Five Gulf South Conference schools either were ranked or received votes in this year’s preseason D-II Coaches’ Poll.

West Florida, the defending 2007 GSC Men’s Golf champions, are the highest ranked GSC school as the Argonauts are ranked fourth in the preseason poll after receiving 312 points. North Alabama, the defending NCAA D-II South Regional champion, begins the new season ranked ninth as they received 277 points and Valdosta State received 93 points to begin the season ranked 22nd. Tech and West Georgia were the only two conference school to receive votes.

Florida Southern, who finished third at last season’s D-II National Championship Meet, opens the season as the team to beat as the Mocs earned seven of 19 possible first-place votes and received 430 points. Defending NCAA D-II National champion Barry University is second in the preseason poll despite earning 10 first-place votes and Columbus State opens the season ranked third as they received 393 points. The final two spots in the Top 5 are held by West Florida and Georgia College, who earned 305 points after finishing tied for sixth at last season’s NCAA D-II Championships.

The next five begins with USC-Aiken at No. 6 and is followed by Washburn at No. 7, Cal State-Stanislaus at No. 8, North Alabama at No. 9 and USC-Upstate at No. 10.

Abilene Christian headlines the second ten at No. 11 and is followed by Armstrong Atlantic State, who received one first-place vote, at No. 12 and Nova Southeastern, who received the final first-place vote, at No. 13. Grand Canyon opens the season at No. 14, while Central Oklahoma is ranked 15th and St. Edward’s opens the season at No. 16. Cameron (No. 17), Sonoma State (No. 18), Cal State-San Bernardino (No. 19) and Belmont Abbey (No. 20) round out the Top 20.

The final five begins with Lynn [FL] at No. 21 and is followed by Valdosta State at No. 22, Florida Tech at No. 23, Lander at No. 24 and Chico State completes the poll at No. 25.

Other teams receiving votes besides Tech include Northeastern State (51), Rollins (48), Western Washington (44), Ferris State (36), St. Mary’s (33), Western New Mexico (30), Northern Kentucky (28), Hawai’i Hilo (27), Catawba (23), CU-Colorado Springs (21), Pfeiffer (21), Florida Gulf Coast (19), Presbyterian (19), Fairmont State (18), Indianapolis (18), Notre Dame de Namur (18), UC-San Diego (15), LeMoyne (14), Eckerd (12), Barton (8), Clayton State (7), Midwestern State (7), Bellarmine (6), Saint Martin’s (6), Coker (5), Missouri Western (5), Newberry (3), Dallas Baptist (2), St. Cloud State (2) and West Georgia (2).

The Wonder Boys will open its season on Sept. 16-17 when they travel to Lawton, Okla., to compete the Cameron Invitational.

Complete Preseason Golf World/Nike Golf D-II Coaches Poll

          -- Tech Athletics --