Guilford Ranked Fourth in National Poll

Greensboro, N.C. (9/19/07) -- Guilford College's men's golf team moved up one spot to fourth place in the Division III Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches' Poll released Wednesday. Saint John's University (Minn.) remains in first place after receiving nine-of-11 first-place votes. Methodist University moved up a spot from third to second and earned the remaining votes. Oglethorpe University fell one spot to third and the University of LaVerne slipped beneath the Quakers to fifth place.

Coach Jack Jensen’s Quakers won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title last season, capturing its league record-tying 10th league crown. The conference title earned Guilford an automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division III Championship where it placed seventh of 35 teams. Guilford's appearance in the NCAA Championships marked its eighth straight trip to the tournament and its 15th in 16 years of NCAA membership.

Two of last year's seniors, Joseph Poplin and Colin Clar, were top golfers for the Quakers. Poplin, 2007 ODAC Player of the Year and a two-time All-American, led the league with a 73.00 stroke average last season. Clark was a four-time First Team All-ODAC selection and finished with a 75.01 career stroke average, which ranks fourth in Guilford history. While both four-year veterans will be missed, the future looks bright for junior Burton Wood and sophomore Peter Latimer. Wood earned Second Team All-ODAC honors last season, while Latimer took home ODAC Rookie of the Year honors.

Guilford opens its season this weekend at the Sea Trail Intercollegiate in Sunset Beach, N.C.

Sept. 19 Golf World/Nike Division III Coaches' Poll
Rank University (First-place votes)
1 Saint John's (Minn.) (9)
2 Methodist (2)
3 Oglethorpe
4 Guilford
5 LaVerne
6 Huntingdon
7 Ohio Wesleyan
8 Nebraska Wesleyan
9 Texas Lutheran
10 Rhodes
Points
350
341
333
291
287
267
263
260
235
228
Last
1
3
2
5
4
7
6
9
T-11
8