Summer is over, the calendar has turned to September and college is back in session. That means college golf is back.
With that, the chase to win an NCAA Championship is on. This year, the championships will be held at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, after being at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, the past three years. La Costa is set to host for three years.
Florida not only won the SEC Championship last year, knocking off top-ranked Vanderbilt, but also the NCAA Championship, going on a special run in the desert for its fifth title in school history. This year, however, there’s a new team on top of the preseason rankings.
Here’s a look at Golfweek’s 2023-24 men’s college golf preseason rankings.
Austin Greaser watches his approach shot on hole four during the round of 32 of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (Chris Keane/USGA)
A year after adding Dylan Menante via the transfer portal, it’s Maxwell Ford joining the fold this season, twin brother of All-American David Ford. That trio, along with Austin Greaser and Peter Fountain, make arguably the strongest 1-5 in the country. The Tar Heels finished first in stroke play at the 2023 NCAA Championship, but they’ll look to improve on the semifinal appearance in match play.
Vanderbilt golfer Gordon Sargent plays his tee shot on the10th hole during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic)
Vanderbilt was the top-ranked team for most of the 2022-23 campaign, but a poor showing at Grayhawk Golf Club at NCAAs left many to wonder what could’ve been. However, with World No. 1 Gordon Sargent returning along with Cole Sherwood, William Moll, Matthew Riedel and likely Jackson Van Paris or Wells Williams rounding out the lineup, the Commodores look primed to be in contention at the NCAA Championship.
Arizona State golfer Preston Summerhays plays his third shot on the ninth hole during NCAA Championship match play quarterfinals at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale on May 30, 2023.
Perhaps one of the biggest disappointments of the last three years was Arizona State not capturing a title close to home at Grayhawk Golf Club. However, the Sun Devils will be strong this season, with Preston Summerhays leading the charge. Wenyi Ding, the 2022 U.S. Junior…
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