By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is ranked #13 this week's Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches Poll released by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Willamette is one of two Northwest Conference teams in the Top 25, with Whitworth University listed at #19.

Emory University (Ga.) retained the #1 ranking this week with 482 points and 10 of 20 first place votes in the poll. Methodist University (N.C.) stayed at #2 with 475 points and five first place votes. Huntingdon College (Ala.) followed at #3 after receiving 455 points and four first place votes. Babson College (Mass.) was fourth with 436 points and the remaining first place vote.

Willamette was one of five West Coast teams ranked in this week's poll. In addition to Willamette and Whitworth other ranked teams were Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) at #8, Occidental College (Calif.) at #24, and the University of Redlands (Calif.) at #25.

The Bearcats have won four tournaments so far in the 2021-22 season. Willamette won the Linfield Invitational on Sept. 25-26, the George Fox Invitational on Oct. 2-3, the NWC Fall Classic on Oct. 9-10, and the Spring Trilogy #1 on March 5.

Willamette is scheduled to participate in two tournaments over the next week during the Spring Break trip to Texas. The Bearcats will compete at the Texas Cup on Sat., March 19 and Sunday, March 20, before playing in the NWC-Texas Challenge on Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 24. Both tournaments will be held at The Courses at Watters Creek in Plano, Texas.