Reid Petersen April 23, 2008

Central returns to national rankings

PELLA—Central College’s red-hot men’s golf team has returned to the Golf World/Nike Division III coaches’ poll, ranked 25th.

Central has won three straight tournaments, taking the 16-team Central Dutch Classic March 28-29, the 22-team Loras Invitational April 6-7 and the 17-team Buena Vista Invitational last weekend.

Powerhouse Methodist (N.C.) received 14 of 15 first-place votes and tops the rankings. Regional rival St. John’s (Minn.) is third and Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) is fifth. Illinois Wesleyan, which Central defeated in the Loras tourney, is ranked ninth while Nebraska Wesleyan, which was second behind the Dutch at Buena Vista, is rated 10th. No other Iowa schools are ranked.

The Dutch open defense of their Iowa Conference title Friday, when they play the first round of the 72-hole league tournament in Iowa City at Finkbine Golf Course. The first two rounds will be played at Finkbine with the final 36 holes at the Oneota Golf Course in Decorah May 2-3. Central won last year’s tourney by a record 49 shots for its 26th title and the school’s 25th golf crown in the past 32 years.

GOLF WORLD/NIKE GOLF COACHES’ POLL
Men’s Division III
RANK TEAM                        POINTS LAST

1. Methodist (N.C.) (14)            374 1

2. Oglethorpe (Ga.)                   335 4

3. St. John’s (Minn.)                  311 5

4. Huntingdon (N.C.)                 310 2

5. Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.)    299 3

6. LaVerne (1) (Calif.)              276 8

7. Wis.-Eau Claire                     246 11

8. Texas-Tyler                          245 12

9. Illinois Wesleyan                   231 6

10. Nebraska Wesleyan 222 10

11. Redlands (Calif.)                  219 18

12. Guilford (N.C.)                    211 7

13. Ohio Wesleyan                    198 9

      Rhodes (Tenn.)                   198 13

15. St. John’s Fisher (N.Y.)       165 14

16. Skidmore (N.Y.)                  163 15

17. LaGrange (Ga.)                   151 16

18. Texas Lutheran                   123 20

19. Washington & Lee (Va.)      96 23

20. Emory (Ga.)                        94 21

21. Allegheny (Pa.)                   69 17

22. Mary Hardin-Baylor            64 25

23. Centre (Ky.)                        56 19

24. Wesley (Conn.)                   46 NR

25. Central                              44 NR

            Also receiving votes: Hope, 37; Transylvania, 37; UT-Dallas, 14; Hampden-Sydney, 7; Carthage, 6; Linfield, 6; Salem State, 6; Otterbein, 3; Susquehanna, 3; Trinity, 3; Williams, 2; Wittenberg, 2; Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 1; Greensboro, 1.