AUGUSTA, Ga.-- The Augusta State men’s golf team has been ranked No. 3 in the nation by Golf World magazine in the publication’s preseason poll. The preseason ranking is the highest ever in the history of the Jaguar men’s golf program.

The defending national champion Jaguars, who return all five starters from their victory at the NCAA Championships at The Honors Course in June, received the second-most first place votes (seven) behind only Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys are at the top of the poll, followed by Stanford and ASU, with Georgia and Oregon rounding the top five. OSU, whom the Jaguars beat in the Match Play Finals, earned eight of the 21 first-place votes. Washington, UCLA, Florida, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech complete the top 10 in the poll.

Oklahoma State junior Peter Uihlein, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, is number one on Golf World’s list of the “Top 50 Male Players to Watch.” The rest of the top-ten includes: No. 2 David Chung (Stanford, Jr.); No. 3 Russell Henley (Georgia, Sr.); No. 4 Scott Langley (Illinois, Sr.); No. 5 Blayne Barber (Auburn, Soph.); No. 6 Eugene Wong (Oregon, Jr.); No. 7 Patrick Reed (Augusta State, Jr.); No. 8 Bud Cauley (Alabama, Jr.); No. 9 Jonathan Randolph (Mississippi, Sr.); No. 10 Dylan Frittelli (Texas, Jr.).

Visit Golf World Senior Writer Ryan Herrington’s “Campus Insider” blog to find out the latest on collegiate golf: http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/blogs/campusinsider. 

GOLF WORLD  Nike Golf
Coaches Preseason Poll

Rank    Team                        Points        2010 NCAA Championships Finish
1.      Oklahoma State (8)           502                  2nd      
2.      Stanford (1)                 447                  Elite 8  
3.      AUGUSTA STATE (7)            438                  Won   
4.      Georgia (3)                  397                  DNP    
5.      Oregon                       386                  Final 4 
6.      Washington (1)               321                  Elite 8  
7.      UCLA (1)                     318                  T-16     
8.      Florida                      316                  T-11     
9.      Texas A&M                    303                  13th     
10.     Georgia Tech                 300                  Elite 8  
11.     Texas                        296                  T-21     
12.     Arizona State                295                  T-8       
13.     Florida State                269                  Final 4 
13.     Southern California          269                  15th     
15.     Alabama                      250                  DNP    
16.     Illinois                     234                  19th     
17.     Clemson                      210                  T-16     
18.     Auburn                       163                  DNP    
19.     Duke                         134                  DNP    
20.     Virginia                     127                  T-11     
21.     Texas Tech                   124                  Elite 8  
22.     San Diego                    110                  T-8       
23.     TCU                           99                  T-27     
24.     South Carolina                79                  DNP    
25.     North Florida                 69                  14th     

Also receiving votes: California, 44; Tennessee, 44; Arkansas, 41; LSU, 40; Kent State, 26; Oregon State, 22; 
East Tennessee State, 19; Mississippi, 16; Arizona, 15; Iowa, 11; Middle Tennessee State, 8; Coastal Carolina, 
7; San Diego State, 7; Wake Forest, 6; Michigan, 5; N.C. State, 3; SMU, 3; North Texas, 1; S.E. Louisiana, 1.