NORMAN, Okla. – Defending NAIA national champion Oklahoma City claimed all 10 first-place votes to begin the season as unanimous No. 1 in the Bushnell Golfweek NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll. It marked the sixth straight poll the Stars have held the top spot.
Texas Wesleyan was second and followed by Dalton State, Keiser, Northwestern Ohio, and Coastal Georgia. Seventh-ranked Johnson & Wales (FL) was the only preseason top 10 team to finish outside that mark in May’s national championships. Wayland Baptist was eighth while Taylor and William Woods completed the top 10.
Bushnell Golfweek NAIA Coaches Poll - Preseason
Rank | University (First Place Votes) | Points | NAIA Finals Finish |
1 | Oklahoma City (10) | 250 | Champion |
2 | Texas Wesleyan | 233 | 3 |
3 | Dalton State | 232 | 2 |
4 | Keiser | 193 | 5 |
5 | Northwestern Ohio | 184 | 6 |
6 | Coastal Georgia | 183 | 4 |
7 | Johnson & Wales (FL) | 177 | T12 |
8 | Wayland Baptist | 173 | 8 |
9 | Taylor | 170 | 7 |
10 | William Woods | 161 | 9 |
11 | Victoria | 155 | 10 |
12 | South Carolina Beaufort | 144 | 11 |
13 | British Columbia | 135 | T12 |
14 | Rocky Mountain | 112 | 14 |
15 | Point | 99 | 15 |
T16 | Cardinal Stritch | 94 | 16 |
T16 | Southeastern (FL) | 94 | Missed Cut |
18 | Our Lady of the Lake | 52 | Missed Cut |
19 | Park (MO) | 50 | DNQ |
20 | Arizona Christian | 44 | DNQ |
21 | Lindsey Wilson | 41 | DNQ |
22 | William Penn | 35 | Missed Cut |
23 | Thomas (GA) | 32 | DNQ |
24 | Oregon Tech | 29 | Missed Cut |
25 | Northwestern (IA) | 26 | Missed Cut |
Others Receiving Votes: Ottawa (AZ), 22; Holy Cross College, 20; Jamestown, 16; Lewis-Clark State, 12; Embry-Riddle (AZ), 10; Bethany (KS), 9; Grand View, 8; The Master's University, 7; Loyola-New Orleans, 6; Bethel (KS), 5; St. Ambrose, 5; Sterling, 5; Morningside, 5; William Jessup, 5; Cumberland University, 4; Indiana Wesleyan, 4; Reinhardt, 4; Corban, 3; Asbury, 1; Bellevue, 1. |