2015 NAIA Men?s Golf Coaches? Top 25 Poll ? Final (May 7)
By Mike DeVader, Communications and Sports Information Intern
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The men’s golf regular-season has come to a close with Coastal Georgia as the No. 1 team in the NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Thursday. The defending national champion Mariners took home 433 total points and 12 first-place votes en route to their third top spot in program history.
The national qualifiers for the 64th Annual NAIA Men's Golf National Championships on May 19-22 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., will be announced at 5 p.m. CDT today.
With today’s ranking, Coastal Georgia has now been the top-squad for two-consecutive releases. Most recently, the Mariners took third-place in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) tournament by shooting an 834 (282-280-272) on April 13-15 at the Montgomery Country Club in Montgomery, Ala.
Individually, Alastair Tidcombe of Coastal Georgia tied for third after a final round 64 (69-70-64—203).
The rest of the top five includes the same teams from the April 10 release, but with a minor tweak. No. 2 Oklahoma City (424 points and the final four first-place votes) stands pat after winning its unaffiliated group (RRAC/SAC) tournament. In third once again is William Woods (Mo.) (409 points). Jumping up one spot to No. 4 is Cal State San Marcos (394 points) and British Columbia (379 points) fell one spot to fifth.
Within the poll, No. 17 Mobile (Ala.) leaped eight positions from No. 25 following its second-place finish in the SSAC tournament. Eighteenth-ranked Concordia (Ore.) dropped two spots from No. 16.
Bethany (Kan.) comes in at No. 23 as one of two newcomers in the rating. The Swedes moved up into the Top 25 thanks to their three-stroke victory in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament on April 20-21.
Warner (Fla.) comes in at No. 25.
The Sun Conference leads all leagues with six teams represented in the poll – No. 7 Johnson & Wales (Fla.), No. 9 USC Beaufort (S.C), No. 13 Webber International (Fla.), No. 14 Northwood (Fla.), No. 19 Thomas (Ga.) and Warner (Fla.).
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups.
For the entire 2015 NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Top 25 Poll ratings calendar, click here.
Notes: (All information dates back to 2000) Coastal Georgia has earned its third all-time No. 1 ranking today…The Mariners join Oklahoma City and William Woods (Mo.) as the schools who have tasted No. 1 this year… Ten teams have been No. 1 all-time… Oklahoma City leads the NAIA with 39 all-time No. 1 rankings, followed by former member Oklahoma Christian (28) and Texas Wesleyan (5)… Only Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Coastal Georgia appeared at No. 1 in 2014… Oklahoma City has never been ranked outside of the top five… Oklahoma City (2010, 2004, 2003, 2002) is the only Preseason No. 1 team to go on to win the National Championships during the same season.
2015 NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches Top 25 Poll – Final (May 7)
| RANK | LAST | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Coastal Georgia (12) | 433 |
| 2 | 2 | Oklahoma City (4) | 424 |
| 3 | 3 | William Woods (Mo.) | 409 |
| 4 | 5 | Cal State San Marcos | 394 |
| 5 | 4 | British Columbia | 379 |
| 6 | 6 | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 364 |
| 7 | 7 | Johnson & Wales (Fla.) | 355 |
| 8 | 8 | Texas Wesleyan | 331 |
| 9 | 9 | USC Beaufort (S.C.) | 324 |
| 10 | 10 | Grand View (Iowa) | 308 |
| 11 | 11 | Dalton State (Ga.) | 304 |
| 12 | 12 | Victoria (B.C.) | 271 |
| 13 | 14 | Webber International (Fla.) | 270 |
| 14 | 13 | Northwood (Fla.) | 254 |
| 15 | 17 | Oklahoma Baptist | 232 |
| 16 | 15 | Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) | 225 |
| 17 | 25 | Mobile (Ala.) | 203 |
| 18 | 16 | Concordia (Ore.) | 201 |
| 19 | 18 | Thomas (Ga.) | 198 |
| 20 | 20 | Tennessee Wesleyan | 168 |
| 21 | 21 | Mount Mercy (Iowa) | 165 |
| 22 | 22 | Union (Ky.) | 136 |
| 23 | RV | Bethany (Kan.) | 105 |
| 24 | 24 | Corban (Ore.) | 97 |
| 25 | RV | Warner (Fla.) | 80 |
