Women’s Golf Vaults to No. 3 in Golf World/NGCA Coaches’ Poll

St. Louis, Mo., September 28, 2011 — The Washington University in St. Louis women’s golf team moved to No. 3 in the Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Top-25 poll, as announced Thursday by the magazine. The No. 3 ranking is the highest in school history.

Methodist College, winners of the last 14 NCAA Division III National Championships, claimed all 17 first-place votes and is the unanimous top-ranked team. DePauw University, who Washington U. defeated twice this fall, held onto its No. 2 ranking.

Washington University, who began the season ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll in September, recorded 377 points in this week’s poll. Gustavus Adolphus College and Centre College rounded out the top five.

Washington U. has won three of four tournaments this fall, and placed third at The O’Brien National Tournament. The Bears have an average score of 308.05, and fired a school record 291 on Sept. 24 at the Millikin University Fall Classic.

Freshman Olivia Lugar leads Washington U. with a 74.13 stroke average, and has won three of four tournaments she has entered this fall. Lugar claimed medalist honors at the NCAA Preview Tournament, O’Brien National Tournament and the Millikin Fall Classic. She also placed second on the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic.

Junior Hannah Buck, a first-team All-America selection year ago, is second on the squad with a 77.13 average. Buck captured the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic following a school-record 69 on day one of the tourney. Sophomore Andrea Hibbert (79.75), sophomore Allyson Chee (80.25) and freshman Taylor Fagan (80.50) round out Washington University’s starting five.

Washington U. completes its fall season on Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 8-9, at The Pat Clouse Invitational in Springfield, Ohio.

Golf World/NGCA Division III Top-25 Poll
1. Methodist (17)
2. DePauw 441
3. Washington University
4. Gustavus Adolphus
5. Centre
T6. Illinois Wesleyan
T6. Wisconsin-Eau Claire
8. George Fox
9. Allegheny
10. Williams
11. Saint Mary’s (Ind.)
12. Amherst
13. Texas-Tyler
14. Mary Hardin-Baylor
15. Olivet
16. Birmingham Southern
17. Wisconsin-Whitewater
18. Wartburg
19. St. Olaf
20. Wisconsin-Stevens Point
21. Middlebury
22. Southwestern
23. New York
24. North Central
T25. Carleton
T25. Wittenberg

Also receiving votes: Piedmont, 56; Hope, 48; Wisconsin-Stout, 44; Central 36; St. Benedict, 33; Rhodes, 32; St. Lawrence, 21; St. Mary’s (Minn.), 21; Carthage, 21; Wheaton, 21; Otterbein, 19; Hollins, 17; Franklin, 13; Hanover, 13; Grinnell, 11; Concordia (Texas), 9; Schreiner, 8; Redlands, 7; Macalester, 6; Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 6; Whitworth, 5; Trinity, 4; Nebraska Wesleyan, 5; Ohio Northern, 3; St. Norbert, 3; UC Santa Cruz, 3; Ithaca, 2; Cortland, 1; Oglethorpe, 1; Wisconsin-Platteville, 1.