AIKEN, S.C.--The USC Aiken golf team has become a permanent fixture atop the GCAA/Bridgestone Top 25 Coaches Poll. The two-time defending NCAA Division II National Champions extended their streak of serving as the nation’s top-ranked team which dates back to the final poll of the 2003-04 season. USCA received 14 of 15 first-place votes in the first poll of the year. (PICTURED: USCA GOLF TEAM AFTER WINNING RAINES INTERCOLLEGIATE)

California State-Bakersfield came in at number two while Rollins, who received the only other first-place tally, was third. Armstrong Atlantic State, last year’s runner-up, is fourth while Western Washington rounds out the top five. Other Peach Belt Conference teams include Columbus State (13), Georgia College & State University (18), Clayton State (RV), and Lander (RV).

The GCAA/Bridgestone Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by a panel of head coaches at Division II institutions, all of which are members of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

Already off to another great start, USC Aiken has won two of its three tournaments this season, posting a 42-2 mark. The Pacers captured the Kiawah Island Invitational to open the year and followed that up with a win at the Division I Raines Development Group Intercollegiate, extending their record winning streak to seven tournaments.

Last week at the prestigious Adams Cup of Newport, the Pacers’ run finally came to an end, placing third in the 16-team Division I field behind Texas A&M and North Carolina.

USC Aiken will conclude its four-event fall schedule on October 3-4 at the AFLAC/Cougar Invitational hosted by Columbus State.

Bridgestone / Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)
NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Top 25
September 23, 2005--Poll #1

Institution..........................................Pts. Pv.
1. USC Aiken (14)..............................374 1
2. CSU-Bakersfield..............................325 4
3. Rollins (1)........................................302 6
4. Armstrong Atl. State.......................295 2
5. Western Washington......................273 9
6. Lynn................................................243 8
7. Hawaii-Hilo......................................240 5
8. CSU-Stanislaus...............................223 NR
9. West Florida....................................209 NR
10. CSU-Chico.....................................203 7
11. Central Oklahoma..........................200 13
12. Delta State.....................................184 11
13. Columbus State.............................159 14
14. Cameron........................................158 NR
15. Barry..............................................157 NR
16. UC-San Diego.................................154 NR
17. Florida Southern.............................123 NR
18. Georgia College & State.................119 15
19. Washburn......................................101 10
20. Pfeiffer...........................................100 16
21. Grand Canyon..................................79 NR
22. Coker................................................75 NR
23. North Alabama..................................62 NR
24. Florida Gulf Coast.............................59 NR
25. Northern Kentucky............................54 12

Others Receiving Votes: St. Martin’s 44, Valdosta State 44, Eckerd 36, St. Mary’s (Texas) 28, Nova Southeastern 27, St. Edward’s 27, Grand Valley State 24, Ferris State 22, Northeastern State 22, Abilene Christian 13, Presbyterian 11, Central Arkansas 10, Bryant 7, Missouri Western State 7, Tampa 7, Carson-Newman 6, Charleston (W.Va.) 6, Clayton State 6, Arkansas Tech 5, Colorado-Colorado Springs 5, Winona State 5, CSU-San Bernardino 4, Indiana (Pa.) 2, Lander 2, Southwestern Oklahoma State 2, Concord 1, Drury 1.