Jim Ott Head Men's Golf Coach Jim Ott | Illinois Wesleyan Titans Website
Jim Ott Head Men's Golf Coach Jim Ott | Illinois Wesleyan Titans Website
The Illinois Wesleyan University men's golf team has been ranked fourth in the nation in the first poll of the 2025-26 season, according to the Golf Coaches Association of America. The preseason ranking was released on August 29.
Illinois Wesleyan returns several experienced players from last year's team, which finished as NCAA Runner-Up. Senior Michael Spitzer, who is a two-time GCAA Ping All-American, received CCIW Medalist honors during his junior year and placed in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships. Another senior, Juney Bai, has participated in three NCAA Championships and earned three All-CCIW selections. Senior Aidan Healy also returns after achieving his best scoring average last season and being named to the GCAA Ping All-Region team.
The team will add an 11-man recruiting class to its roster this year, joining four returning sophomores.
In the national poll, Methodist University secured first place with 15 first-place votes and 418 points after winning consecutive national championships (https://www.methodist.edu/news/methodist-university-mens-golf-wins-back-to-back-national-championships/). Washington and Lee took second with one first-place vote and 387 points. Emory was third with 386 points. Illinois Wesleyan followed closely with 363 points for fourth place. Sewanee completed the top five with 329 points. Carnegie Mellon, ranked ninth overall, received one first-place vote.
Illinois Wesleyan will begin its season with an exhibition match against Millikin on September 3 at Clinton Country Club before starting regular play at the Carthage Invitational on September 8-9.
The full Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll includes Methodist (1), Washington and Lee (2), Emory (3), Illinois Wesleyan (4), Sewanee (5), Oglethorpe (6), Huntingdon (7), Lynchburg (8), Carnegie Mellon (9), Aurora (10), Trinity TX (11), Kenyon (12), LeTourneau (13), Redlands (14), Gettysburg/T-15 Guilford/T-15, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (17), Southwestern TX (18), Hampden-Sydney (19), Pomona-Pitzer (20), Rochester (21), Babson (22), Berry (23), Gustavus Adolphus (24) and Willamette (25).
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