By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is tied for #25 in the nation according the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll for NCAA Division III released on Friday, Sept. 29. The Bearcats took first place in their first action of the fall season at the 2017 Collegiate Open, hosted by Pacific Lutheran University on Sept. 17-18.

Willamette began competing at it's second tournament, the Whitworth Men's Invitational, on Sunday, Oct. 1 at the Kalispel Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. The Bearcats are completing the tournament today (Mon., Oct. 2).

In the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll, University of Texas-Tyler received 16 of 20 first place votes and 496 points to grab the #1 rankings. Huntingdon College (Ala.) was ranked #2 with 452 points in the poll. Emory University (Ga.) followed at #3 with two first place votes and 421 points, while Illinois Wesleyan University was #4 with 4210 points. Methodist University (N.C.) was listed at #5 with 392 points, and Guilford College (N.C.) was #6 with one first place vote and 361 points.

Concordia University (Texas) was ranked #7 with 344 points, Wittenberg University (Ohio) was #8 with 282 points, and Sewanee: University of the South (Tenn.) was one point back at #9 with 281 points. Greensboro College (N.C.) rounded out the top 10 with 269 points.

In addition to Willamette, other teams from the West Coach included in the poll were Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) at #12, Chapman University (Calif.) with one first place vote at #18, University of La Verne (Calif.) at #21 and California Lutheran University at #24. Willamette was tied with Ohio Wesleyan University for the #25 ranking.