NORMAN, Okla. – The Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll was released last week and four Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s golf programs earned a spot in the top 25.
Schreiner University is ranked No. 11 in the nation to lead all SCAC institutions. They finished in seventh place at the NCAA tournament last season after winning the National Championship in 2014. They have also earned back to back SCAC titles. Recent graduates Jimmy Keener and Cheyne Kendall highlighted the 2014 squad, so there will be big shoes to fill for the 2015-16 Mountaineer crew.
Texas Lutheran University ranks No. 16 in the poll. Despite not going to the golf championship, they are second on the list among the four SCAC schools. TLU took fourth at the SCAC championships last year, while recent graduate Adam Peterson won the tournament and later went on to finish in eighth place at the NCAA tournament as an individual.
Southwestern University comes in at No. 17 in the rankings. The Pirates earned a spot in the NCAA Championship last season and just missed the cut while Cody Hebert, who returns for 2015-16, drained a birdie put to win a three-way playoff to make the individual cut. Hebert finished the championship tied for 26th with a 297.
Trinity University rounds out the SCAC teams, ranked No. 19 overall. The Tigers had just two seniors on the team and will look to make their way into the NCAA tournament. Trinity finished in second place at the SCAC tournament last season, led by Redmond Lyons who took third overall.
2015 National Champion Methodist took the top spot in the rankings, while LaGrange and UT-Tyler took second and third, respectively.