NORMAN, Okla. - Fighting Illini men's golf opens the 2017-18 campaign ranked at No. 5 in the Preseason Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State claimed the top spot in the poll, and the Orange and Blue are joined among the top five teams by Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Baylor.
Illinois opens the fall season at the Olympia Fields/ Fighting Illini Invitational on September 15.
The Orange and Blue return four starters to the 2017-18 roster, including seniors Nick Hardyand Dylan Meyer who have contributed to Illinois' three consecutive Big Ten Championship titles and three consecutive NCAA Championship semifinalist finishes. Sophomores Michael Feagles and Giovanni Tadiotto also return this season after successful freshman campaigns. Sophmore Bryan Baumgarten also returns for the 2017-18 season, he earned several starts during the 2016 fall season and will look to continue his contributions this season. Illinois also welcomes two newcomers this year in Varun Chopra and Brendan O'Reilly.
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest on Illinois men's golf.
Bushnell Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll - Preseason
|
Rank
|
University (First-Place Votes)
|
Points
|
NCAA Finals Finish
|
|
1
|
Oklahoma State (7)
|
507
|
Quarterfinals
|
|
2
|
Vanderbilt (4)
|
467
|
Semifinals
|
|
3
|
Oklahoma (10)
|
460
|
Champion
|
|
4
|
Baylor
|
398
|
Quarterfinals
|
|
5
|
Illinois (1)
|
397
|
Semifinals
|
|
6
|
Texas
|
376
|
12
|
|
7
|
LSU
|
368
|
9
|
|
8
|
Southern California
|
365
|
Quarterfinals
|
|
9
|
Oregon
|
332
|
Runner-Up
|
|
10
|
Florida
|
309
|
DNQ
|
|
11
|
Wake Forest
|
301
|
DNQ
|
|
12
|
UNLV
|
273
|
Quarterfinals
|
|
13
|
Auburn
|
251
|
11
|
|
14
|
Stanford
|
241
|
Missed Cut
|
|
15
|
Virginia
|
222
|
10
|
|
16
|
Texas A&M
|
212
|
DNQ
|
|
17
|
Clemson
|
210
|
Missed Cut
|
|
18
|
Georgia Tech
|
177
|
DNQ
|
|
19
|
Alabama
|
174
|
Missed Cut
|
|
20
|
Florida State
|
169
|
T14
|
|
21
|
Arizona State
|
156
|
Missed Cut
|
|
22
|
Texas Tech
|
129
|
DNQ
|
|
T23
|
Kent State
|
105
|
Missed Cut
|
|
T23
|
Pepperdine
|
105
|
13
|
|
25
|
Georgia
|
97
|
DNQ
|
Others Receiving Votes: Duke, 67; Ole Miss, 65; California, 48; UCF, 27; North Carolina, 22; USF, 20; South Carolina, 19; Iowa State, 16; Arkansas, 15; Washington, 11; Northwestern, 7; San Diego State, 6; Michigan, 5; Penn State, 4; Kentucky, 3; Purdue, 3; Colorado, 2; Lipscomb, 2; UCLA, 2; BYU, 1; Missouri, 1; NC State, 1; New Mexico, 1; North Florida, 1
