A new college golf season is upon us, and NCCGA Vice President Matt Brugner is up to his usual task: Busting out the calculator and figuring out where each team ranks.
Here are a couple notes from Matt that you should read before taking a look at the rankings below:
- Rankings are compiled using average differential scores from the previous school year. Scores from nationals are weighted heavier, as well as regional tournaments from the previous season. To make the Top 10, teams must have played in both of the previous national championships.
- Out of the Spring 2014 Preseason Top 50, 35 teams finished the year in the season-ending Top 50 Rankings. 20 out of the 25 Spring 2014 Nationals teams were in the Preseason Top 50.
|
1 |
Texas |
Baylor University |
|
2 |
Southwest |
National University Golf Academy |
|
3 |
Northern New England |
New Hampshire |
|
4 |
Colonial |
Virginia |
|
5 |
Southeast |
Georgia |
|
6 |
Ohio Valley |
Ohio State |
|
7 |
Great Lakes |
Purdue |
|
8 |
North Carolina |
NC State |
|
9 |
North |
Wisconsin (A) |
|
10 |
Central |
Mizzou (A) |
|
11 |
Midwest |
Michigan |
|
12 |
North Carolina |
Campbell |
|
13 |
Southeast |
Clemson |
|
14 |
Florida |
Keiser |
|
15 |
Southeast |
PGCC Hilton Head |
|
16 |
Central |
Kansas |
|
17 |
Ozark |
Oklahoma St. |
|
18 |
Florida |
Florida St. |
|
19 |
Ohio Valley |
Miami (OH) |
|
20 |
Desert |
Arizona |
|
21 |
Southeast |
South Carolina |
|
22 |
Gulf |
LSU |
|
23 |
Texas |
Texas A&M |
|
24 |
Southern New England |
Providence College |
|
25 |
Atlantic |
Pittsburgh |
|
26 |
Central |
Iowa |
|
27 |
Texas |
TCU |
|
28 |
Colonial |
Virginia Tech |
|
29 |
North |
Wisconsin – Whitewater |
|
30 |
Florida |
Florida |
|
31 |
Southwest |
UCLA |
|
32 |
Colonial |
James Madison |
|
33 |
Ohio Valley |
Cincinnati |
|
34 |
Midwest |
Michigan State |
|
35 |
South |
ETSU |
|
36 |
Capitol |
Towson |
|
37 |
Capitol |
Maryland |
|
38 |
South |
Alabama |
|
39 |
Atlantic |
Penn St. |
|
40 |
Northwest |
Idaho |
|
41 |
Great Lakes |
Notre Dame |
|
42 |
Metro |
Rutgers |
|
43 |
North |
Wisconsin (B) |
|
44 |
New England |
Boston College |
|
45 |
Desert |
Arizona State (A) |
|
46 |
South |
Tennessee Tech |
|
47 |
North Carolina |
East Carolina |
|
48 |
Northeast |
SUNY Cortland |
|
49 |
North Carolina |
UNC – Chapel Hill |
|
50 |
West New York |
Syracuse |
Here is a closer look at the Top 10:
1. Baylor University --- Texas
The Baylor Bears look to defend their National Championship this coming semester at Dancing Rabbit. Baylor Club Golf only graduated one senior, so they should be poised and ready to make a run at back-to-back national titles.
2. National University --- Southwest
After a runner-up finish in New Jersey, National Golf Academy will be very strong heading into the Fall season. If they keep dominating the Southwest Region, they will be strong contenders in Mississippi come November.
3. New Hampshire --- Northern New England
New Hampshire comes in as our No. 1 team from the North. They will use the warm practice whether of the summer to their advantage. Look for another top-five finish at the upcoming Nationals.
4. Virginia --- Colonial
UVA is always a favorite to win any club golf tournament they play in. Led by a great Regional Coordinator in Nick Willenbrock, the Virginia team will be strong in a very tough Colonial Region.
5. Georgia --- Southeast
The Georgia Bulldogs claimed a No. 1 national ranking early in the season last year. They always put together a great team, and I expect them to perform well in a close-to-home national championship.
6. Ohio State --- Ohio Valley
The Ohio Valley Region has become one of the toughest in the nation, thanks to teams trying to catch up to the Ohio State Buckeyes. The warm weather will be a big advantage for this large team as they look to make a National Championship run.
7. Purdue --- Great Lakes
Purdue flies under the radar in the NCCGA, but they always come through strong in Regional and National Tournament play. They are ready to make a big splash this year.
8. NC State --- North Carolina
NC State has to fight through a very difficult North Carolina Region. The team earned a bid to nationals as a wildcard, but quickly took the first round lead at Crystal Springs. They will look to avenge their second-round downfall this season.
9. Wisconsin (A) --- North
The Badgers, specifically NCCGA Social Media Coordinator Bobby Puchner, love to talk about the strength of Wisconsin Club Golf. This year, they proved it with very strong Regional Tournament performances. Even their B team made it to Nationals in the Spring. The Badgers will have practiced all summer, and they want it more than anyone.
10. Mizzou --- Central
Although they are a newer program, the Mizzou Club Golf team has risen to the top of the NCCGA. They surprised a lot of teams with a top-five finish in Spring Nationals. I expect they will continue their success this coming year.
***Matt Brugner (@NCCGAVP) and Dave Uhrmacher (@DaveUhrm) are members of the NCCGA Student Leadership Team.
