Aug. 28, 2008
GOLF WORLD PICKS A&M MEN 9TH IN PRESEASON POLL
COLLEGE STATION - The Texas A&M men's golf team is ranked No. 9 in Golf World's preseason coaches' poll.
The Aggies return four starters and seven lettermen from last year's team that finished 12th at the NCAA Championship, their best finish since 1984.
The four returning starters each posted top six finishes in tournaments last spring. Sophomore Nacho Elvira earned All-America honors and won the Barona Collegiate Cup, while senior Bronson Burgoon and junior Andrea Pavan had runner-up performances. Senior Matt Van Zandt tied for sixth at the U.S. Collegiate Championship.
Other returning lettermen are senior Clay Hodge, junior Austin Schauer and sophomore Conrad Shindler. Sophomore John Hurley and freshman Jordan Russell redshirted last season.
Head Coach J.T. Higgins welcomes a highly-ranked trio of freshmen in Case Cochran, Drew Evans and Geoff Shaw.
The Aggies open their fall schedule at the Adams Cup Sept. 22-23 in Newport, R.I..
GOLF WORLD/NIKE GOLF COACHES' POLL
Men's Division I - Preseason Edition
| Rank | Team | Points | '08 NCAA |
| 1. | UCLA (11) | 618 | Won |
| 2. | Oklahoma St. (4) | 592 | 4th |
| 3. | Georgia (6) | 585 | T-8 |
| 4. | Southern Cal. (5) | 564 | 3rd |
| 5. | Stanford | 498 | 2nd |
| 6. | Clemson | 481 | 5th |
| 7. | Florida | 468 | 11th |
| 8. | Alabama | 343 | 13th |
| 9. | Texas A&M | 343 | 12th |
| 10. | Georgia Tech | 340 | DNP |
| 11. | Florida St. | 335 | DNP |
| 12. | Arizona St. | 334 | MC |
| 13. | Charlotte | 258 | T-8 |
| 14. | Duke | 231 | DNP |
| 15. | Tennessee | 217 | DNP |
| 16. | Auburn | 201 | MC |
| 17. | Kent St. | 173 | 6th |
| 18. | Tennessee St. | 168 | MC |
| 19. | South Carolina | 160 | DNP |
| T-20. | Wake Forest | 121 | MC |
| T-20. | Indiana | 121 | MC |
| 22. | UNLV | 117 | DNP |
| 23. | San Diego St. | 101 | 14th |
| 24. | Texas | 95 | MC |
| 25. | North Carolina | 91 | DNP |
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Others receiving votes: Chattanooga, 90; Louisville, 86; Illinois, 75; Washington, 74; Middle Tennessee St., 50; Texas Tech, 41; Michigan St., 39; UAB, 39; Arizona, 34; UCF, 32; LSU, 27; Arkansas, 22; N.C. St., 21; Pepperdine, 21; Mississippi, 20; Penn St., 15; UC Irvine, 15; TCU, 12; Augusta St., 11; California, 11; Purdue, 11; Oregon, 10; Northwestern, 8; Coastal Carolina, 6; Virginia Tech, 5; Colorado St., 3; Marquette, 3; SMU, 2; St. John's, 2; Virginia, 2; Maryland, 1; Memphis, 1; Mississippi St., 1; New Mexico, 1; Notre Dame, 1; Wichita St., 1.