Date Posted: 9/5/2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The ETSU men's golf team earned a pair of preseason top-20 rankings - No. 14 from the Golfweek/Sagarin Preseason Rankings and the 18th spot in the first GCAA Golf World/Nike Division I ranking.

The Buccaneers are ranked 18th in the first Golf Coaches Association of America's Golf World/Nike Division I Top 25 ranking, which is determined in a vote of college coaches. A year ago, the Bucs finished 22nd in the country. UCLA is picked first again after winning the national championships a year ago, while Oklahoma State, Georgia, Southern California and Stanford round out the Top 5.

The Buccaneers, who finished No. 23 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings last year, open their 2008-09 season Sept. 12 at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Dalton, Ga. The team, which was ranked 18th by the GCAA earlier this week, is coming off its school record 20th trip to the NCAA Championships.

Georgia tops the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, followed by Oklahoma State, 2008 NCAA Champion UCLA, USC and Stanford. Tennessee is ranked 22nd.

ETSU will return five players from its roster a year ago, including players such as Seamus Power (Waterford, Ireland) and Rhys Enoch (Cornwall, England), who both were major contributors to the Bucs a year ago. Newcomers such as Scottish Boys Champion Michael Stewart (Troon, Scotland) and U.S. Amateur qualifier Devin Komline (Dorset, Vermont) are also expected to compete for positions on the top five this fall.

The Bucs will open their season September 12 at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Dalton, Ga.

Related Links:
 • GolfWeek Preseason Top 30
 • CGAA Preseason Poll