(Editor's note: Montana Tech media release)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the first men's golf coaches’ top 25 poll on Friday. Montana Tech was ranked No. 22 in the national poll.
This is the first time in school history that a Tech golf team has been ranked in the national poll.
“This is a big step for our program to be recognized on the national stage and a huge testament to the hard work and dedication this team has put in to reach the level we are at,” said Orediggers head coach Sean Ryan. “I’m incredibly proud of this group, but now it’s time to go out and prove the ratings committee got it right.”
The Orediggers won the first Frontier Conference regular-season title in school history in the fall after winning three conference tournaments and having three different individual medalists.
The Montana Tech men have the 10th-best scoring average in the country (292.25) and are one of 10 teams in the NAIA with three or more tournament victories.
“It’s great to think about how far we’ve come as a program in such a short time and the successes we’re able to have because of our tremendous team chemistry and the work ethic of some great young men from the state of Montana," Ryan said.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups. The top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams in each conference.
Point (Ga.) claimed the No. 1 spot in the national poll. The complete poll can be found here.
The Oredigger golf spring schedule begins on March 14-16 at the Lewis-Clark State College Warrior Spring Invitational in Clarkston, Wash., and continues March 28-30 at the Arizona Christian University Spring Invite at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, Ariz. The Frontier Conference championship is April 18-21 at Banbury Golf Course in Eagle, Idaho.
