Women’s Golf Ranked No. 2 in NGCA Division III Coaches’ Poll

St. Louis, Mo., October 26, 2011 – The Washington University in St. Louis women’s golf team is ranked No. 2 in the Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division III Top-25 Poll, as announced Wednesday by the magazine. The No. 2 ranking is the highest in school history.

Methodist College, winner of 14-straight NCAA Division III championships, retained the top spot earning 18 of 22 first-place votes. The Monarchs have won twice through the first two months of play, taking the team titles at the O’Brien National Invitational and the Martin & Wallace Invitational.

Washington University claimed the other four first-place votes and jumped to No. 2 in the rankings after four victories in five starts this fall. Rounding out the top five are DePauw University, Centre College and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Fourth-year head coach Sean Curtis has also guided Washington U. to a No. 2 ranking by Golfstat, with an average team score of 307.60. The Bears claimed team titles at the NCAA Preview Tournament, IWU Fall Classic, Millikin Fall Classic and the Pat Clouse Invitational. Washington U. fired a school record 291 on day one of the Millikin Fall Classic on Sept. 24.

Freshman Olivia Lugar leads a group of five golfers that average an 80 or lower per 18 holes. Lugar has won four of five tournaments in her rookie campaign, and ranks No. 1 in Division III with a 74.00 average. Junior Hannah Buck has fired nine of 10 rounds at 80 or lower this fall, and shot a school-record 69 on day one of the IWU Fall Classic on Sept. 17. Buck ranks second in the region and 12th in Division III with a 76.80 average.

Sophomore Andrea Hibbert (80.20, 81st), freshman Taylor Fagan (85th, 79.50) and Allyson Chee (118th, 80.40) round out the top five for Washington University.

Washington University opens the 2012 spring season at the Northern Kentucky Spring Invitational on Saturday-Sunday, March 24-25, in Perry Park, Ky.
 
Golf World/NGCA Division III Top-25 Poll
1. Methodist (18)
2. Washington University (4)
3. DePauw
4. Centre
5. Wisconsin-Eau Claire
6. Gustavus Adolphus
7. George Fox
8. Williams
9. St. Olaf
10. Illinois Wesleyan
11. Allegheny
12. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
13. Mary-Hardin Baylor
14. Wartburg
15. Middlebury
16. Birmingham Southern
17. Wisconsin-Stevens Point
18. Olivet
19. Carleton
20. Amherst
21. St. Mary’s (Ind.)
22. Ithaca
23. Southwestern
24. Wittenberg
25. St. Benedict