Coaches Association Gives Statesmen First-Ever Top-25 Ranking
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The official NAIA poll will not be released for two weeks, but the William Penn men’s golf team is already reaping the benefits of a strong autumn as it is ranked 25th in the Golf Coaches of America Association Bushnell Golfweek Top-25 poll Friday.
The Statesmen had received votes in the past, but had never been inside the top 25. It is the first time the navy and gold, who earned 22 points, have been ranked in any poll since joining the NAIA in 2001-2002 and presumed to be the first time ever in program history. The high rating comes on the heels of WPU winning this week’s NAIA Preview, including defeating four top-25 teams and four others receiving votes.
The NAIA’s poll will be released on November 3, just a few days after WPU concludes its fall season at the Southern Plains Intercollegiate in Oklahoma City, Okla. hosted by Oklahoma City, which his ranked #1 in the NAIA poll. It is believed that several other top-25 teams will also be in the field in Oklahoma, including #3 (NAIA poll) Texas Wesleyan, so a strong showing by William Penn could lift the team even higher in the NAIA poll.
Texas Wesleyan, with 240 points and three first-place votes, tops the Golfweek poll, while Dalton State (Ga.) (one first-place vote), Oklahoma City (six first-place votes), Johnson & Wales (Fla.), and South Carolina Beaufort round out the top five.
Zachary Chegwidden (So., Essex, England, Business Management) currently leads the Statesmen as he is ranked 32nd in the entire NAIA (GolfStat statistics) with a 72.3 stroke average.
