NORMAN, Okla. – Texas Wesleyan earned three first-place votes and moved up one spot to become the new No.1 ranked team in the Bushnell Golfweek NAIA Coaches Poll. The Rams have won both of their tournaments this fall. It marked the first regular season poll without Oklahoma City at No. 1 since the final 2016 regular season ranking.
Second-ranked Dalton State was only two points back of Texas Wesleyan and collected one first-place vote. Former No. 1 Oklahoma City slipped to third despite receving the most first-place ballots with six. The Stars are only five points back of Texas Wesleyan.
Johnson & Wales (FL) moved up a spot to sixth. South Carolina Beaufort jumped up nine rungs to No. 5. Norwestern Ohio was sixth while Keiser, Victoria, British Columbia and Coastal Georgia rounded out the top 10
Embry-Riddle (AZ), Freed-Hardeman, Lewis-Clark State, Morningside, Rocky Mountain, and William Penn debuted in the Top 25. Neither Freed-Hardeman, Morningside or William Penn received votes in the preseason poll. Bellevue, Grand View, The Master’s University, Mount Mercy, Southeastern (FL) and William Jessup fell from the ranking.
The final fall Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Polls will be released November 17.
Bushnell Golfweek NAIA Coaches Poll - Oct. 20
Rank | University (First Place Votes) | Points | Previous |
1 | Texas Wesleyan (3) | 240 | 2 |
2 | Dalton State (1) | 238 | 3 |
3 | Oklahoma City (6) | 235 | 1 |
4 | Johnson & Wales (FL) | 212 | 5 |
5 | South Carolina Beaufort | 176 | 14 |
6 | Northwestern Ohio | 175 | T8 |
7 | Keiser | 172 | 6 |
8 | Victoria | 170 | 10 |
9 | British Columbia | 164 | T8 |
10 | Coastal Georgia | 159 | 7 |
11 | Wayland Baptist | 157 | 4 |
12 | Rocky Mountain | 152 | NR |
13 | Taylor | 135 | 15 |
14 | William Woods | 112 | 13 |
15 | Cardinal Stritch | 97 | 11 |
16 | Our Lady of the Lake | 85 | 22 |
17 | Arizona Christian | 79 | 12 |
18 | Corban | 76 | T23 |
19 | Embry-Riddle (AZ) | 59 | NR |
20 | Oregon Tech | 48 | 17 |
21 | Lewis-Clark State | 47 | NR |
22 | Morningside | 35 | NR |
23 | Lindsey Wilson | 29 | T23 |
24 | Freed-Hardeman | 25 | NR |
25 | William Penn | 22 | NR |
Dropped From Ranking: | Bellevue (#20), Grand View (#16), The Master's University (#18), Mount Mercy (#21), Southeastern (FL) (#25), William Jessup (#19 | ||
Others Receiving Votes: Bellevue, 18; The Master's University, 16; Point, 14; William Jessup, 13; Culver Stockton, 12; Marymount (CA), 9; Southeastern (FL), 9; Indiana Wesleyan, 8; University of the Cumberlands, 7; Grand View, 7; William Carey, 7; SCAD Savannah, 5; Webber International, 5; Kansas Wesleyan, 4; Reinhardt, 4; St. Ambrose, 4; Northwestern (IA), 3; Columbia College, 2; Lawrence Tech, 2; Loyola - New Orleans, 1; Mount Mercy, 1. |