McLean County Times

The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) released its first poll of the 2024-25 season on Friday, August 30, ranking the Illinois Wesleyan University men's golf team at No. 5.

The Titans' roster includes four members from last year's NCAA Championship lineup. Illinois Wesleyan placed eighth in the national tournament with then-junior Griffin Pohl and then-sophomore Michael Spitzer securing top-10 individual finishes. Both players received GCAA PING All-America Honorable Mention status.

Other notable players on the roster include former College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Medalist Quinn Clifford, two-time All-CCIW honoree Juney Bai, and several other accomplished student-athletes. The team also features freshmen Pablo Castro, Lane Ludwig, Michael O'Keefe, Tug Schwab, and Joey Sluzas.

Methodist University topped the poll with six first-place votes and 264 points after winning last season's national title. Carnegie Mellon followed closely with 259 points and three first-place votes, while Emory ranked third with 250 points. Oglethorpe received the remaining first-place votes and ranked fourth with 246 points, just ahead of Illinois Wesleyan's 227 points.

Illinois Wesleyan will begin its competition with an annual exhibition against Millikin University as part of the Battle for 51 match play event on Thursday, September 5 at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington, Illinois. The official season opener is scheduled for September 9 at the Heartland Invite at Crestwicke Country Club.

2024-25 Preseason Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll:

1. Methodist (6) - 264

2. Carnegie Mellon (3) - 259

3. Emory - 250

4. Oglethorpe (2) - 246

5. Illinois Wesleyan - 227

6. Huntingdon - 203

7. Washington & Lee - 186

8. Lynchburg - 175

9. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps -173

10. Redlands -149

11. Sewanee -145

12 Saint John's (MN) -136

13 Kenyon -128

14 Wittenberg -119

15 Bethel (MN) -106

16 Aurora –93

17 LeTourneau –75

18 Franklin & Marshall –68

19 Pomona-Pitzer –64

20 Guilford –62

21 Babson –56

22 Wisconsin-Eau Claire –41

23 Hampden-Sydney –38

24 Texas-Dallas –36

25 Gustavus Adolphus –30

Others Receiving Votes: Whitman (25), Averett (22), Willamette (21), Rochester (19), Hope (18), Trinity (TX) (17), Farmingdale State (16), RPI (15), Christopher Newport (14), Rose-Hulman (12), Greensboro (11), Whitworth (9), Skidmore (8), McDaniel(7), Carleton(6), St.John Fisher(6), Allegheny(5), Rhodes(5), Berry(3), Spalding(2), Trinity(CT)(2). York(PA)(2). California Lutheran(1).