By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University is ranked #19 in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Preseason Poll released by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Willamette placed 13th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships on May 14-18 at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It was the Bearcats' highest-ever national finish, beating out 14th place finishes by Willamette at the NAIA Championships in 1975 and 1976.
"Coming off of a great year and a terrific finish at nationals it is kind of validating to start the season ranked," Willamette Head Coach Patrick Daugherty said. "We appreciate the recognition, but also know that it doesn't hold much weight. Look at last season, we were unranked most of the year, ranked outside of the top three in our conference (4th), and we were seeded 26th at nationals. Yet we won the conference, won five tournaments, and finished inside the top 15 in the country. It's great to see us on the list early, but I'm looking forward to seeing where we finish."
The NCAA Division III Preseason Poll for 2019-20 was topped by #1-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University, which received 13 of 19 first place votes and 466 points. Illinois Wesleyan is the defending national champion.
Emory University (Ga.) was ranked #2 with five first place votes and 429 points. Holding the #3 ranking was Huntingdon College (Pa.) with one first place vote and 421 points. Guilford College (N.C.) was #4 with 412 points and Methodist College (N.C.) was fifth with 396 points.
Willamette was one of four West Coast teams in the Top 25. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) was #8, University of Redlands (Calif.) was #13, and University of La Verne (Calif.) was #21.
In addition, two teams from Texas were included in the Preseason Poll. Concordia University was listed at #10, with Southwestern University at #14. Overall, six teams from the West Region were nationally ranked.
At the 2019 NCAA Championships. Willamette golfer Austin Davis (Fy. in 2018-19, Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) tied for 24th overall with a four-round score of 299 (78-75-73-73. Sam Hinton (Sr. in 2018-19, Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) tied for 32nd at 302 (77-71-77-77). Willamette's team score for the 72-hole tournament was 1,228 (308-306-306-308).
