
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team is ranked #25 in the final Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll of the 2023 fall season. Willamette has completed its fall schedule, highlighted by a second place at the Whitworth Fall Classic and an 11th place finish against nationally-competitive teams at the 2023 NCAA Division III Preview.
In the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll, Methodist University (N.C.) held the #1 spot with 266 points and nine of the 11 first place votes. Emory University (Ga.) was #2, just two points behind Methodist, with 264 points and the two remaining first place votes. Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) followed at #3 with 245 points, while Illinois Wesleyan University was #4 at 217. Oglethorpe University (Ga.) owned the #5 ranking at 199.
Joining Willamette from Region VII in the national rankings were Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) at #6, the University of Texas-Dallas at #10, and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) at #15. Receiving votes but not in the Top 25 were Region VII teams from LeTourneau University (Texas), the University of Redlands (Calif.), Trinity University (Texas), Whitworth University, Whitman College, California Lutheran University, and Southwestern University (Texas).
Willamette is scheduled to open the spring season by competing in the Willamette Valley Cup, hosted by the Bearcats at Creekside Golf Club in Salem, Oregon, on March 16-17.