Aug. 29, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s golf team is ranked 20th nationally in the Golf World/Nike Golf Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Wednesday.

Head coach Bill McDonald’s team returns 11 letterwinners from the 2006-07 team that won the NCAA West Regional and finished 11th at the NCAA Championship. McDonald enters his first season as head coach after serving as associate head coach last season. Former head coach Puggy Blackmon has assumed the new position of University of South Carolina Director of Golf.

Sophomore George Bryan IV, a 2007 PING All-American, returns along with senior All-American Mark Anderson and All-SEC performer Florian Fritsch. Chris Piumelli (Mountain Lake, N.J.) is the lone newcomer to join the Gamecocks.

South Carolina opens its season Sept. 14 at the Carpet Capital Invitational in Duluth, Ga.

Defending NCAA champion Stanford is ranked No. 1 with Alabama, Georgia, Florida and UCLA rounding out the top five.

GOLF WORLD/NIKE GOLF COACHES’ POLL

Men’s Division I – Preseason Edition

RANK TEAM POINTS

1. Stanford (19) 759
2. Alabama (3) 714
3. Georgia (3) 679
4. Florida (1) 659
5. UCLA (6) 636
6. Southern Cal. 609
7. Oklahoma State 587
8. Georgia Tech 501
9. Clemson 465
10. Charlotte 411
11. Texas A&M 366
12. UNLV 362
13. Coastal Carolina 338
14. Tennessee 331
15. Florida State 325
16. Lamar 291
17. Duke 283
18. Arizona State 278
19. Louisville 189
20. South Carolina 180
21. East Tennessee State 178
22. Texas 172
23. Wake Forest 166
24. Georgia State 142
25. Arizona 138

Others receiving votes: Minnesota, 129; BYU, 115; Tulsa, 107; North Carolina, 94; Auburn, 57; Texas Tech, 31; Michigan State, 21; Washington, 12; East Carolina, 11; Northwestern, 11; Vanderbilt, 11; TCU, 9; Mississippi, 5; Central Florida, 5; Chattanooga, 4; Virginia Tech, 3; New Mexico, 2; Pepperdine, 2; Southeastern Louisiana, 2; Penn State, 1; UC-Irvine, 1.