THE FAB FIVE
My look at the top five teams in the country right now

MEN
1. Georgia (Last week: 2)
A second straight convincing win in the fall, this time at their favorite stomping ground (Isleworth), allows the Bulldogs to close out the first-half of the 2008-09 on a high. UGa's depth is has been rather evident, with four players posting 73.22 averages or better although only one player (Hudson Swafford, 71.89) has a sub-72 mark.
Next event: Concluded fall play

2. Oklahoma State (Last week: 1)
Had a disappointing T-9 finish at Isleworth, hinting that while the Cowboys' much talked about depth is obvious on paper it doesn't always translate to results on the course. No need to panic in Stillwater, though, as you've got to believe that without the distractions of the fall (Rickie Fowler at the World Amateur; Trent Leon playing PGA Tour Q school), there should be better focus this spring. 
Next event: Concluded fall play

3. Alabama (NR)
Who said losing four seniors was going to be a challenge? The Crimson Tide finished in the top five in three of four fall starts and the fourth was a sixth-place finish. Lone Alabama veteran Matthew Swan has provided solid leadership and freshman Bud Cauley looks as good as advertised.
Next event: Concluded fall play

4. USC (4)
The talent on the Trojans roster is too good to ignore, but a strong showing at CordeValle (where they should be co-favorites with host UCLA) will be important to keep USC in the discussions for the nation's top squad. Jamie Lovemark continues to show shines his great form from this freshman season might be returning, but a needs to be a little more consistent.
Next event: CordeValle Collegiate, CordeValle GC, San Martin, Calif., Nov. 3-5

5. Illinois (3)
Said it last week that a good finish at Isleworth would help validate the Fighting Illini's three win fall. A T-11 wasn't exactly the result they hoped to achieve, but all in all Mike Small has to be pleased with the potential of his charges.
Next event: Concluded fall play

WOMEN
1. UCLA (1)
No team--men's or women's--has looked as consistently sharp as the Bruins this fall. You have to wonder, then, if contesting a tournament at match play rather than stroke play might work against UCLA as it tries try to close out the first half of the 2008-09 season undefeated.
Next event: Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship, Ginn Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 2-4

2. Arizona State (3)
You've got to wonder what coach Melissa Luellen is really thinking after seeing Anna Nordqvist run off with the individual title at the Derby Invitational, helping the Sun Devils claim a ho-hum 18-stroke team triumph. Sure she's wishing the best for Nordqvist at LPGA Q school. Unfortunately, the best for Nordqvist (earning a card) isn't what's best for Arizona State.
Next event: Concluded fall play

3. USC (2)
Belen Mozo (U.S. Women's Amateur semifinalist) and Jennifer Song (U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links finalist) showed match play prowess this summer. Got to think the Trojans chances' of being in the mix to the end at Ginn Reunion Resort this week are pretty high.
Next event: Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship, Ginn Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 2-4

4. Oklahoma State (4)
A second straight second-place finish, this time in Las Vegas, since Laura Matthews stepped down as coach earlier this month suggests that the change at the top might not be as big a distractions as some have thought for the Cowgirls. Look for OSU to try and name a new coach sometime during the winter break.
Next event: Concluded fall play

5. Purdue (5)
The Lady Boilermakers hold their position for now, although you could make an argument that Pepperdine (see below), Wake Forest (two wins) or Virginia (four top-fours) could occupy the five spot just as easily. Bottom line: there's been a bit of separation on the women's side from the good and the really good.
Next event: Concluded fall play

STAT OF THE WEEK
199, 823
Naysayers will tell you the record numbers shot by Pepperdine's Lisa McCloskey and the entire Waves squad at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown this week was more a function of Boulder Creek GC having no wind and perfect greens. When you set an NCAA 54-hole best, as the freshman from Montgomery, Texas, is believed to have done with her 17-under 199 showing (NCAA doesn't keep official records for such statistics), a defenseless golf course shouldn't get all the credit/blame. After all, McCloskey didn't make a single bogey during the week while shooting rounds of 67-65-67, putting her one stroke lower than what was assumed to be the old 54-hole record  set by (coincidentally) Pepperdine's Katherine Hull at the 2003 San Jose State Spartan Invitational.

Pepperdine's collective 41-under 823 was 23 strokes lower than their previous 54-hole team best. Here's the other ways the team re-wrote the school's record books this week:

* school-record score for 36 holes (26-under 250)
* the first (18-under 270), second (15-under 273) and fifth (eight-under 280) best single team rounds
* McCloskey setting school records for 36 holes (12-under 132) and 54 holes (17-under 199)
* the fourth best (tied) 54-hole individual score (Jayvie Agojo’s eight-under 208)
* the 11th best 54-hole individual score (Taylore Karle’s seven-under 209)
* the 12th best (tied) 54-hole individual score (Kaitlin Drolson’s six-under 208)
* the third best (tied) individual round in school history (7-under 65s by McCloskey and Agojo)
* the sixth best (tied) individual round in school history (6-under 66 by Karle)
* the 12th best (tied) individual round in school history (a pair of 5-under 67s by McCloskey)

STAT OF THE WEEK, PART II
277
The final-round score for the St. Mary's (Calif.) men at last weekend's Baylor Invitational. It was not only the low team score on Tuesday at Royal Oaks CC in Waco, Texas, but the low round of the tournament by any school. Still it couldn't keep the Gaels from still finishing last among the 12-team field because amazingly in the first two rounds St. Mary's shot 317 and 316. Junior Robert McRae shot a final round 66 after opening with a 76-77. Senior Brett Mormann posted a final-round 69 after shooting 83-80 the first two rounds.

Don't know about you, but I'm kind of curious to find out what coach Scott Hardy said to the boys the night before to get the 40-stroke turnaround that he did.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
* It's become fashionable to praise the play of Indiana senior Jorge Campillo, a first-team All-American who has had as good a fall as any men's golfer in the country. Lost in Campillo's solid start is the impressive performance Hoosier junior Alex Martin has had during the first half of the 2008-09 campaign. The 21-year-old from Middletown, Ohio, (right, photo courtesy of Indiana's media relations) has a individual victory of his own (share of first with Illinois' Zach Barlow at Olympia Fields) and a share of second place this past week at Isleworth with Campillo. Without Martin's 71.87 average this fall, you would be hard pressed to see Indiana having their five top-five finishes and being ranked in the top 25 in the national polls. You can't have one player carry a team anymore in men's college golf. In that respect, Martin has been just as valuable as Campillo and is going to be counted on in much the same way when IU starts up play again in the spring.

TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH
MEN
Rees Jones Intercollegiate
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Haig Point Club, Daufuskie Island, S.C.
Nov. 3-4
Host: Michigan State
Field: Eastern Michigan, Georgia State, Idaho, Jackson State, Methodist, Michigan State, San Diego State, South Carolina, Tennessee State, Troy, Tulsa
Defending champion: New Event
Skinny: Tournament was postponed from early September when bad weather from Hurricane Hanna.

CordeValle Collegiate
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
CordeValle GC, San Martin, Calif.
Nov. 3-5
Host: UCLA
Field: Arizona, Arkansas, Augusta State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Lamar, Northwestern, Santa Clara, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington
Defending champion: UCLA (12-under 1,068) by 11 strokes over Stanford; Augusta State's Henrik Norlander, UCLA's James Lee, Stanford's Sihwan Kim (five-under 211)
Skinny: Host Bruins trying to win the title for the fourth time in five years. ... Event uses play six/count five format.

Stockton Sports Commission Pacific Invitational
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Brookside CC, Stockton, Calif.
Nov. 3-5
Host: Pacific
Field: BYU, CSU-Northridge, Fresno State, Kansas State, Marquette, Oregon, Pacific, Rice, Sacramento State, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UT-San Antonio
Defending champion: Charlotte (40-under 824) by two strokes over Kansas State; Charlotte's Stefan Wiedergruen (17-under 199) by three strokes over Fresno State's Grant Doverspike
Skinny: Regional rivalry gets played out with CSU Northridge, Fresno State, Pacific and first-time participant Sacramento State.

WOMEN
Challenge at Wolfdancer
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Wolfdancer GC, Austin, Texas
Nov. 2-3
Host: Texas State
Field: Baylor, Charleston, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, McNeese State, Michigan, Missouri State, Nebraska, Northwestern, SMU, Texas State, Texas Tech
Defending champion: Northwestern (47-over 911) by five strokes over Iowa State; Baylor's Hannah Burke (one-over 217) by four strokes over Illinois' Seul Ki Park and Lamar's Therese Nilsson
Skinny: Second-year event has six Big 12 teams in the field and four Big Ten schools.

Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Ginn Reunion Resort, Reunion, Fla.
Nov. 2-4
Host: National Golf Coaches Association
Field: Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Denver, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Kent State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Tulsa, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia
Defending champion: Duke defeated Georgia in the finals, 3-1-1
Skinny: A mediocre fall season for the Blue Devils could end at least on a positive note if they can win the event for the fifth time in five tries.

Cameron Peck pretty much guaranteed he would be named the 2008 AJGA Rolex boys' player of the year when the 17-year-old from Olympia, Wash., won the U.S. Junior Championship in July after also securing victories in two AJGA invitationals. But it wasn't until Victoria Tanco won the Ping Invitational at Karsten Creek earlier this month that 14-year-old Argentine who trains at the Leadbetter Academy likely secured top honors on the girls' side. Both officially were named winners of their respective awards today (Oct. 25) by the AJGA.

Peck is a senior at Timberline High who has made a verbal commitment to attend Texas A&M next fall. He earned his first career AJGA win in April, then claimed the FootJoy Invitational title in June followed by the HP Boys Invitational a week prior to his U.S. Junior triumph. He is the first boy or girl from the Pacific Northwest to win the POY award.

This was the first year that Tanco played junior golf in the U.S., and she had little trouble adjusting. A win at the Scott Robertson Memorial in May boosted her confidence as she then claimed the Rolex Girls Junior Championship title in her first AJGA start. She qualified for the U.S. Women's Open and advanced to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Girls' Junior. It wasn't until winning the event at Karsten Creek, however, that she finally attained the No. 1 ranking in the Polo Golf Rankings. Tanco is the second youngest winner of the girls' award, as she's five months older than In-Bee Park when she won it in 2002.

Both will honored for their accomplishments at the Rolex Junior All-American Awards Banquet Nov. 23 at the Ginn Reunion Resort near Orlando.

PECK'S 2008 RESULTS
T-11, The Verizon Junior Heritage (72-74--146)
T-35, Houston Boys Invitational at Redstone presented by HP and Administaff (74-79-79--232)
4th, AJGA Championship at Traditions (76-75-74--225)
1st, Wellstone Communities Junior at Craig Ranch (72-70-72--214)
T-31, Thunderbird International Junior (72-78-71--221)
1st, FootJoy Invitational (66-71-68-66--271)
T-11, Rolex Tournament of Champions (70-78-73-78--299)
1st, HP Boys Junior Championship (73-72-70-69--284) 
1st, U.S. Junior Amateur (69-73--142; df. Evan Beck in finals, 10 & 8)
5th, The Junior Players Championship (70-77-69--216)

TANCO'S 2008 RESULTS
T-3, Orange Bowl International Golf Championship (70-72-71-72--285)
1st, Scott Robertson Memorial (68-74-69--211)
1st, Rolex Girls Junior Championship (68-70-72--210) 
T-17, Rolex Tournament of Champions (77-79-75-76--307) 
T-11, McDonald's Betsy Rawls Girls Championship (73-74-75--222)
T-9, U.S. Girls' Junior (73-73--146; lost to Alexis Thompson in quarterfinals, 3 & 2)
1st, The Ping Invitational (79-72-73--224)

(Photos courtesy of the AJGA)

The AJGA announced its 2008 Rolex All-American teams today; the complete list can be found below. The boys and girls' players of the year will be revealed tomorrow (Oct. 28).

With high school seniors set to sign national letters of intent for colleges starting  Nov. 12, we've also indicated the schools where the honorees from the Class of 2009 (and some from other classes) have given verbal commitments.

GIRLS
First Team
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J., Class of 2013
Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif., 2009--Arizona State
Kimberly Kim, Pahoa, Hawaii, 2009--Oklahoma State
Jessica Korda, Bradenton, Fla., 2011
Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif., 2013
Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash., 2011
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif., 2009--UCLA
Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif., 2010
Victoria Tanco, Bradenton, Fla., 2011
Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla., 2013
Allie White, Lancaster, Ohio, 2008--freshman at North Carolina
Kristina Wong, Bradenton, Fla., 2009--Stanford

Second Team
Luz Alejandra Cangrejo, Bogota, Colombia, 2010
Lindy Duncan, Davie, Fla., 2009--Duke
Danielle Frasier, Encinitas, Calif., 2010
Pearl Jin, Bradenton, Fla., 2013
Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 2012
Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga., 2009--Not available
Stephanie Kim, Orlando, 2009--Not available
Marika Lendl, Bradenton, Fla., 2008--freshman at Central Florida
Lisa McCloskey, Montgomery, Texas, 2008--freshman at Pepperdine
Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif., 2010--USC
Victoria Sungmin Park, Irvine, Calif., 2009--Not available
Jessica Wallace, Langley, British Columbia, 2008-freshman at Pepperdine

Honorable Mention
Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass., 2009--Virginia
Sydney Burlison, Salinas, Calif., 2008--freshman at Stanford
Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla., 2011
Courtney Ellenbogen, Blacksburg, Va., 2009--Duke
Valentina Fontaine, Hilton Head Island, S.C., 2009--Central Florida
Courtney Gunter, Matthews, N.C., 2009--North Carolina
Ginger Howard, Bradenton, Fla., 2012
Danielle Kang, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 2010
Victoria Kiser, Orlando, 2010
Amelia Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., 2009--Central Florida
Marika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif., 2010
Mary Michael Maggio, Conway, Ark., 2009--LSU
Grace Na, Oakland, 2011
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y., 2013
Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif., 2011
Jane Rah, Torrance, Calif., 2009--Oklahoma State
Christine Song, Fullerton, Calif., 2009--Not available
Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz., 2010
Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky., 2012
Tessa Teachman, Baton Rouge, La., 2008--freshman at LSU
Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif., 2010
Veronica Valerio, Temecula, Calif., 2010
Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, 2012
Julie Yang, Phoenix, 2013

BOYS
First Team
Byeong-hun An, Bradenton, Fla., 2010
Evan Beck, Virginia Beach, Va., 2009--Wake Forest
Patrick Cantlay, Los Alamitos, Calif., 2010
Chan Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 2008--freshman at Arizona State
Kyle Kopsick, Lake Bluff, Ill., 2008--freshman at Auburn
Hyun Seok Lim, La Palma, Calif., 2008--freshman at USC
Cameron Peck, Olympia, Wash., 2009--Texas A&M
Crawford Reeves, Greenville, S.C., 2009--Clemson
Jordan Spieth, Dallas, 2011
T.J. Vogel, Cooper City, Fla., 2009--USC
Cory Whitsett, Houston, Texas, 2010
Andrew Yun, Tacoma, Wash., 2009--Stanford

Second Team
James Back, Cerritos, Calif., 2010
Rak Cho, Brea, Calif., 2011
Phillip Choi, Orlando, Fla., 2009--Florida
Talor Gooch, Midwest City, Okla., 2010
Chien Yao Hung, Taipei, Taiwan, 2010
Michael Jae Woo Im, Irvine, Calif., 2008--freshman at UC Irvine
Jeffrey Kang, Fullerton, Calif., 2010
Jace Long, Dixon, Mo., 2008--freshman at Missouri
Tyler McCumber, Ponte Vedra, Fla., 2009--Florida
Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, 2011
Julian Suri, St. Augustine, Fla., 2009--Duke
Ethan Tracy, Hilliard, Ohio, 2008--freshman at Arkansas

Honorable Mention
Zachary Blair, Ogden, Utah, 2009--Not available
Dominic Bozzelli, Pittsford, N.Y., 2009--Central Florida
Franco Castro, Alpharetta, Ga., 2010
Mario Clemens, Beverly Hills, Calif., 2009--UCLA
Austin Cody, North Charleston, S.C., 2010
Jacob Everts, Ooltewah, Tenn., 2009--Not available
Michael Hebert, Orlando, 2009--Florida State
Juan Pablo Hernandez, Mexico City, 2009--Not available
Trey Kaahanui, Tempe, Ariz., 2012
Cody Kent, Castle Rock, Colo., 2010
Kyle Kmiecik, Avon, Ohio, 2010
Ben Kohles, Cary, N.C., 2008--freshman at Virginia
Daniel Lee, Valencia, Calif., 2011
Nicholas Losole III, Scottsdale, 2009--Northwestern
Corbin Mills, Easley, S.C., 2009--Clemson
Keith Mitchell, Chattanooga, Tenn., 2010
Brinson Paolini, Virginia Beach, Va., 2009--Duke
Kevin Phelan, St. Augustine, Fla., 2009--North Florida
Robert Register, Burlington, N.C., 2011
Brandon Rodgers, Knoxville, Tenn., 2010
Chandler Rusk, Edmond, Okla., 2009--Texas Tech
Cameron Wilson, Rowayton, Conn., 2010
Bobby Wyatt, Mobile, Ala., 2010
Yao-Chun Yang, Troy, Mich., 2009--Not available

MEN
Darren Blair, N.C. State
With a five-stroke victory at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, the senior from South Africa made it two straight starts in which a Wolfpack golfer has claimed an individual title, following up Matt Hill's win at the Hartford Hawks Invitational. Blair shot a six-under 210, including a final-round 70, that outpaced Wake Forest's Dustin Groves, East Tennessee State's Rhys Enoch, UAB's Zach Sucher and Coastal Carolina's Zack Byrd and earned him his first career title as N.C. State closed out its fall season.

Blair jumped into the lead at The Ridges G&CC in Jonesborough, Tenn., on Saturday with a three-birdie, no-bogey 69 second round, which tied for the day's low score.
(Photo credit: Peyton Williams/NCSU athletics)


WOMEN
Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State
The junior from Sweden was the only player in the field at the Derby Invitational to break par in all three rounds as she claimed medalist honors at Auburn University Club with a nine-under 207, four strokes better than fellow Sun Devil Azahara Munoz and Virginia's Whitney Neuhauser.

"It feels so good to win, I've been so close so many times," said Nordqvist, who claimed her third career title but first outright since spring 2007. "Everything just seemed to go my way this tournament. I played solid golf, and I'm really happy."

Nordqvist's efforts also helped the Sun Devils claim the team title in Auburn, Ala., winning by an impressive 18 strokes over Virginia after posting a five-over 869 total. It was ASU's second victory of the fall season.

Potentially, the Derby could have been Nordqvist's final tournament as a college player. The 21-year-old is set to play in the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School and if she were to earn a tour card she has hinted that she likely would leave school and turn professional.
(Photo: Courtesy of ASU Sports Information Department)

Just when you thought the Georgia women's team had gained a bit of stability, breaking the school scoring record while winning the Cougar Fall Classic in September and earning a No. 4 ranking in the latest Golf World/NGCA coaches' poll, the Bulldogs announced Friday that arguably their best player, Krystle Caithness, was leaving school halfway through her sophomore season.

Caithness (right) sited homesickness as the reason behind her decision. "I really do miss home at this time and don't feel like I can carry on in any way that will help my team to move forward," she said in a written statement released by the school. "I will miss everyone. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity I received here at Georgia. At this time I have to do what's best for me."

The 19-year-old from St. Andrews, Scotland, had built an impressive resume in the past year, having earned honorable mention All-American honors last spring, then competing for the Great Britain & Ireland side in this summer's Curtis Cup and to playing for Scotland earlier this month at the World Amateur Team Championship, where she tied for sixth individually. She says she intends to play in the Ladies European Tour Q school in January.

"Krystle has been a valuable member of our team, and we will certainly miss her," Georgia women's coach Kelley Hester said. "We wish her the best as she returns home to pursue a professional golf career."

Still, the loss of Caithness puts Hester, in her second year at her alma mater after replacing former coach Todd McCorkle following his messy resignation in May 2007, in a difficult situation. Her roster has now shrunk to just five players as the Bulldogs begin in the first round of the Derby Invitational today at the Auburn University Club in Alabama.

THE FAB FIVE
My look at the top five teams in the country right now

MEN
1. Oklahoma State (Last week: 1)
With Rickie Fowler back after shooting the low score at the World Amateur Team Championship in Australia, the Cowboys seem to be in position to do something they have never done: win the title at Isleworth. In the first four editions of the event, OSU has been second twice and fourth twice.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

2. Georgia (2)
Conversely, the Bulldogs have won outside of Orlando three of the four times the event has been play ... and by an average score of nearly 13 strokes. With the Brickyard victory helping to build momentum, UGa looks ready to make it four of five.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

3. Illinois (3)
It's time to see what the Fighting Illini is really all about when they compete at Isleworth. A good finish will validate the three victories this fall. A so-so finish and teams (including the one in Urbana-Champaign) will spend the winter break wondering just how good Illinois really is.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

4. USC (4)
Having only played one event thus far in 2008-09, it's hard to figure out just how good the Trojans are ... or might be. In that sense, how things play out in Isleworth might be more intriguing for these California boys than any other team set to tee it up next week.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windemere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

5. Colorado State (NR)
The Rams made it four wins in five starts when they closed out their fall season with a one-stroke victory at the Sycuan Collegiate Invitational last Tuesday. While their strength of schedule isn't as strong as most nationally ranked teams, CSU has shot a combined 82 under par in its four victories (27 under at Gene Miranda; 13 over at Wyoming; 41 under at Del Walker; and 27 under at Sycuan. Bottom line: scores don't lie, and those red numbers are pretty impressive.
Next event: Concluded fall play

WOMEN
1. UCLA (1)
Another victory for the Bruins, this time at the Stanford Intercollegiate, makes them a perfect three-for-three this fall. Even better news for UCLA fans was that Ryann O'Toole, playing as an individual in Palo Alto, finished T-5. If you're sixth golfer is posting top-five finishes, you know you've got things rolling.
Next event: Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship, Ginn Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 2-4

2. USC (3)
The Women of Troy have lost to just one other school--crosstown rival UCLA--all fall. The problem, of course, is that they've lost to them three times. Still, a 42-3 record for a team that lost two All-Americans from last year's starting line-up bodes well in their quest to repeat as NCAA champions. 
Next event: Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship, Ginn Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 2-4

3. Arizona State (2)
With junior Anna Nordqvist set to compete at the final stage of LPGA Q School in December, the question looms whether this the Derby will be the Swede's last tournament as a Sun Devil?
Next event: The Derby Invitational, Auburn University Club, Auburn, Ala., Oct. 24-26

4. Oklahoma State (4)
Never mind just why Laura Matthews so unexpectedly resigned as coach last week. The real question for the Cowgirls is how they'll respond to the abrupt change at the top. A fourth-place showing last weekend at Stanford suggests they have the ability to overcome the off-course drama with their on-course talent.
Next event: Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, Boulder Creek GC, Boulder Creek, Nev., Oct. 27-29

5. Purdue (NR)
With their second straight win, a 17-stroke victory on their home course at the Lady Northern, the Boilermakers not only reasserted themselves as the team to beat in the Big Ten but suggested they continue to belong among the elite nationally as well.
Next event: Concluded fall play

STAT OF THE WEEK
49
The score, in relation to par, that Wichita State junior Dustin Garza has shot in his five fall tournaments for the Shockers after winning this week's Sycuan Collegiate Invitational with a 16-under 200 at Willow Glen GC in El Cajon, Calif. Garza won four of his five starts and finished the fall with a 68.53 stroke average. Garza shot a then career best 66 at the VCU Shootout earlier this month, then shot a 65 in his next start, the Wolf Pack Classic, only to shoot a 61 this week at the Sycuan Collegiate. There's still obviously a half a year left before All-American awards are handed out ... here's hoping (again) that a guy at a lower-profile school doesn't get looked over.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
* They might as well rename the Big West Conference's player of the month award after Kay Hoey. The Long Beach State senior won the honor in September--for the ninth time in her career--and if she plays well this week at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, after finishing T-3 at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational early in the month, she could capture No. 10 in October. Hoey came in under the radar this season, having redshirted last year despite earning second-team All-American honors as a freshman during the 2004-05 season and as a junior in the 2006-07 season. Having won the CU/Heather Farr Memorial in her first start back, her eighth career individual title, the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native doesn't seem to have slipped with her year away from competitive golf.

* Take a moment to go to Big South Conference's web site in the next few days. The conference is celebrating its 25th anniversary and in conjunction is running a weekly video feature highlighting the top 25 "best of the best" moments in its history. This week's profile is on Dustin Johnson, recent PGA Tour winner who finished up his career at Coastal Carolina last spring. The conference touts Johnson as one of the best golfers to ever play in the conference. It's a quality piece and a nice tribute to a talented player. There's also an opportunity to vote for Johnson as the "best" of the best of the best Big South moments.

TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH
MEN
Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
The Ridges G&CC, Jonesborough, Tenn.
Oct. 24-26
Host: East Tennessee State
Field: UAB, Auburn, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State, Kent State, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, N.C. State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest
Defending champion: Virginia Tech and Tennessee (12-under 852); Tennessee's Chris Paisley (10-under 206) by two strokes over Kent State's John Hahn and Maryland's Chris Gold
Skinny: Six players in the field have already shared or won individual titles outright this fall: UAB's Zack Suchar (Shoal Creek), East Tennessee State's Rhys Enoch (Shoal Creek), N.C. State's Matt Hill (Hartford Hawks), Ohio State's Vaughn Snyder (Memphis Invitational), Tennessee's Robin Wingardh (Ping/Golfweek Preview), Wake Forest's Brendan Gielow (VCU Shootout).

Landfall Tradition
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
CC of Landfall (Nicklaus course), Wilmington, N.C.
Oct. 24-26
Host: UNC Wilmington
Field: Davidson, East Carolina, Georgia Southern, Iowa, UNC Wilmington, Tulsa, VCU, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky, William & Mary, Wisconsin, Xavier
Defending champion: Virginia Tech and Tulsa (eight-over 872), Hokies winning tiebreaker of non-counting, final-day scores; Tulsa's Nicolas Geyger (nine-under 207) by five strokes over Ohio State's Kyle Coconis
Skinny: Geyger, a senior, is looking to three-peat as medalist after also claiming a share of the individual title in 2006.

Isleworth/UCF Collegiate Invitational
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla.
Oct. 26-28
Host: UCF
Field: Alabama, Arizona, Charlotte, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Stanford, Texas, Texas Tech, UCF,  UCLA, USC
Defending champion: Georgia (23-under 841) by 21 strokes over Clemson; Georgia's Harris English (11-under 205) by three strokes over USC's Jamie Lovemark
Skinny: With perhaps the exception of the Ping/Golfweek Preview, no fall tournament has a deep field; eight of the top nine teams in the most recent Golf World/Nike Golf coaches' poll will be competing, and 13 of the top 25.

Baylor Intercollegiate
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Royal Oaks CC, Dallas (Par 71, 7,068 yards)
Oct. 27-28
Host: Baylor
Field: Arkansas, Baylor, BYU, Charleston, Houston, Kansas, Lamar, New Mexico, Oklahoma, SMU, St. Mary's (Texas), Texas A&M
Skinny: The tournament returns after a two-year hiatus, moving from Waco where the host Bears last one the event in 2005, to much-lauded Royal Oaks in Dallas.

UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, N.C.
Oct. 27-28
Host: UNC Greensboro
Field: Duke, Eastern Michigan, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, UNC Greensboro, Notre Dame, Pepperdine, South Alabama, Toledo, 
Defending champion: Louisville (four-under 860) by three strokes over Mississippi State; Louisville's Derek Fathauer (10-under 206) by five strokes over Kent State's Brett Cairns
Skinny: Forest Oaks was the site of the PGA Tour's stop in Greensboro from 1977 to 2007.

ODU/Seascape Invitational
Seascape GL, Kitty Hawk, N.C.
Oct. 27-28
Host: Old Dominion
Field: Binghampton, Campbell, Drexel, Elon, George Mason, George Washington, James Madison, Liberty, ODU, Radford, USC-Upstate, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph’s , Temple, Towson.
Defending champion: Hartford (nine-over 569) by three strokes over Campbell; Richmond's Jordan Utley (three-under 137) by one stroke over three strokes over Hartford's A.J. Oleksak, Wofford's Garrett Medeiros and Elon's Jimmy Lytle
Skinny: Tournament is celebrating its 29th playing.

Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Canabrake CC, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Par 72, 6,902 yards)
Oct. 27-28
Host: Southern Mississippi
Field: Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Illinois State, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Longwood, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, New Orleans, Rhode Island, Southern Mississippi, St. John's, Texas-Pan American, Troy, Winthrop
Defending champion: UAB (six-over 858) by one stroke over Southern Mississippi; ULM's David McKendrick (10-under 203) by two strokes over New Orleans' Jose Toledo
Skinny: The event is named after a former Southern Mississippi player and two-time coach with the Eagles, who won more than 300 tournaments as an amateur in the Gulf States area.

Roadrunner Invitational at Comanche Trace
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Comanche Trace, Kerrville, Texas
Oct. 27-28
Host: UT-San Antonio
Field: Arkansas-Little Rock, Boston College, Central Arkansas, DePaul, Florida Gulf Coast, Louisiana Lafayette, McNeese State, Sam Houston State, South Florida, Southeast Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin, UTSA
Defending champion: St. John's (20-under 844) by three strokes over SMU; Western Kentucky's Brent Long (16-under 200) by one stroke over St. John's Mike Ballo Jr.
Skinny: Course hosts the event for a third year and will also host the men's Southland Conference Championship next spring.

Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
New Mexico State GC, Las Cruces, N.M. (Par 72, 7,074 yards)
Oct. 27-28
Host: New Mexico State
Field: Air Force, Akron, Ball State, Cal Poly, Colorado, Denver, Idaho, Iowa State, Kansas State, Miami (Ohio), Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico State, Northern Colorado, UTEP, Utah, Washington State, Weber State
Defending champion: Texas Tech (21-under 831) by four strokes over UT-Arlington; Texas Tech's Sergio Franky (11-under 202) by two strokes over Kansas State's Joe Ida
Skinny: Host Aggies are riding high after winning the Wolf Pack Classic in their last start.

WOMEN
Derby Invitational
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Auburn University Club, Auburn, Ala.
Oct. 24-26
Host: Auburn
Field: Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, Furman, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tulane, UCF, Virginia
Skinny: Event, named in honor of former Auburn standout Virginia Derby Grimes, returns after a one-year hiatus. No non-SEC school has claimed the team title in 11 playings.

The Landfall Tradition
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
CC of Landfall (Nicklaus course), Wilmington, N.C.
Oct. 24-26
Host: UNC Wilmington
Field: East Carolina, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, N.C. State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tulsa, Wake Forest
Defending champion: Wake Forest (14-over 878) by nine strokes over Purdue; Wake Forest's Nannette Hill (one-over 217) by one stroke over Michigan State's Laura Kueny
Skinny: The tournament, entering its seventh year, is considered by many the best of all the events that feature concurrent men's and women's competitions.

Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown
    (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Boulder Creek GC, Boulder Creek, Nev. (Par 72, 6,265 yards)
Oct. 27-29
Host: UNLV
Field: BYU, Colorado State, Eastern Washington, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa State, Long Beach State, Louisville, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UC Davis, UNLV, Washington
Defending champion: Denver (six-under 858) by 11 strokes over Arizona; Denver's Katie Kempter (eight-under 208) by three strokes over Arizona's Alison Walshe and Denver's Chelsea Benton
Skinny: Diverse mix of schools from around the country will make for an interesting tournament.

Kent Youel Invitational
Kapolei GC, Honolulu (Par 72, 6,140 yards)
Oct. 28-29
Host: Hawaii
Field: Cal Poly, CSU-Northridge, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Francisco, San Jose State, Southern Illinois, Stanford, UC Irvine, UC Riverside
Defending champion: UCLA (17-over 881) by four strokes over USC; UCLA's Maria Jose Uribe and Tiffany Joh (one-over 217)
Skinny: Our guess for team most excited about playing in Hawaii: Southern Illinois. Projected high on Oct. 28 in Hawaii is 84 degrees. Back on campus it's supposed to be 62.

MEN
Zahkai Brown, Colorado State
The 18-year-old freshman earned his first college title in impressive fashion, winning the Del Walker Intercollegiate by eight strokes after shooting rounds of 66-63-67 for a 17-under 196 total at Virginia CC in Long Beach, Calif. With his second-round 63, Brown, a native of Arvada, Colo., tied a school record for the best 18-hole score. It was Brown’s third top-10 finish in just three college starts and his effort helped the Rams cruise to the team title with a 41-under 811 score, 23 strokes better than runner-up UC-Irvine. The Rams have now won three tournament titles in four starts this fall.

"Anytime you win as an individual, you're playing good," said Colorado State coach Jamie Bermel afterward, "but to win by eight is something. I walked all 54 holes with him, and he definitely didn’t play like a freshman, that’s for sure."

WOMEN
Lizette Salas, USC
With a seven-under 206 total, the sophomore from Azusa, Calif., claimed her first college victory at the Stanford Intercollegiate, outlasting Oklahoma State freshman Caroline Masson by two strokes at Stanford GC. Salas took the lead during the final round, shooting a two under on the front nine before finishing the day with a three-under 68.

Thus far in the 2008-09 season, the 19-year-old Salas has a 70.56 overall stroke average and her final-round stroke average of 69.0 is second in the country.

Guess we had gone too long in college golf without a surprising coaching move. Still, today's announcement that Oklahoma State women's coach Laura Matthews had resigned from her post effective immediately was quite the shocker With a trio of potential All-American candidates in senior Pernilla Lindberg, sophomore Jaclyn Sweeney and freshman Caroline Hedwell, Matthews, 28, seemingly had assembled her best squad since being hired as Cowgirls coach in the fall of 2005. OSU had climbed to fifth in the most recent Golf World/NGCA coaches' poll.

"For professional and personal reasons, I am stepping away as women's golf coach," Matthews, the 2008 Big 12 coach of the year, said in a written release issued by the school. "Over the last three years, I have enjoyed my time working with many wonderful ladies. The standing relationship with my players, both current and future, is the only factor that makes this decision difficult.

"I am very proud of the work that was done to make Oklahoma State's women's golf team a national contender again."

A call to Matthews' cell phone for further comment had not been returned as of Friday evening.

In the school release, Oklahoma State athletics director Mike Holder (the former men's golf coach) said: "I would like to thank Laura for her work at Oklahoma State. We wish her all the best." When reached by phone Friday and asked about the circumstances of Matthews' resignation, Holder declined to comment on the matter.

"The release speaks for itself," Holder said.

The timing of Matthews' resignation is intriguing considering that it comes less than a month before the early signing period for high school seniors begins on Nov. 12. Matthews was expected to sign one of the nation's best recruiting classed, having received verbal commitments from former U.S. Women's Amateur champion Kimberly Kim and AJGA All-American Jane Rah and Canadian standout Sue Kim.
 

It's also interesting in that on the day that Matthews' resignation was announced, the Cowgirls were playing in the first round of the Stanford Intercollegiate. Matthews did not accompany the team to California, and assistant coach Alan Bratton is overseeing the squad during this weekend's tournament. (The Cowgirls ended the first round in second place, one stroke behind No. 1 UCLA.)

According to the OSU athletic department, men's coach Mike McGraw will serve as director of golf on an interim basis, overseeing the men's and women's programs.

THE FAB FIVE
My look at the top five teams in the country right now

MEN
1. Oklahoma State (Last week: 1)
The Cowboys have a pair of golfers--Rickie Fowler of the U.S. and Sean Einhaus of Germany--playing at the World Amateur Team Championship this week.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

2. Georgia (NR)
The Bulldogs defended their title at this week's Brickyard Collegiate, beating rival Georgia Tech by five strokes, and did so with senior All-American Adam Mitchell back in Athens, having failed to make the starting lineup. The Bulldogs finished strong but will need to get off to better starts if they don't want to give coach Chris Haack a heart attack.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

3. Illinois (4)
The field wasn't all that strong at the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate, but the Fighting Illini took care of business with a 18-stroke win, their third tournament title of the fall. Freshman Luke Guthrie's final-round 64 suggests that Mike Small's squad might be even deeper than we all think.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

4. USC (2)
The Trojans surprisingly hit only 58.9 percent of the greens in regulation at the Ping Preview. Says here they'll improve that number as they get more than one tournament under their belt.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windemere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

5. South Carolina (5)
Four different Gamecocks--Patrick Rada, Mark Silvers III, Allen Koon and George Bryan IV--have top-10 finishes already this season. We'll see if they can continue to perform when they faced their toughest test on their fall schedule next week outside Orlando.
Next event: Isleworth-UCF Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windemere, Fla., Oct. 26-28

WOMEN
1. UCLA (1)
If the Bruins can win this weekend at Stanford, it will be their third team title of the fall and the first time they've won that many tournaments this early in the season since Carrie Forsyth took over the program in 1999.
Next event: Stanford Intercollegiate, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 17-19

2. Arizona State (2)
The Sun Devil contingent has very respectable showing at World Amateur: Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) 2nd; Azahara Munoz (Spain) 3rd; Carlota Ciganda (Spain) T-11; Juliana Murcia (Colombia) T-57; Giulia Molinaro (Italy) T-76.
Next event: The Derby Invitational, Auburn University Club, Auburn, Ala., Oct. 24-26

3. USC (3)
The Trojans' team birdie conversion rate is 23.9 percent and no player on the defending NCAA champions whose score has counted for the team in their first two tournaments of the fall has made worse than a double bogey. Don't sleep on the Women of Troy!
Next event: Stanford Intercollegiate, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 17-19

4. Oklahoma State (4)
The Cowgirls have arguably the world's best golfer (at least at this moment) playing for them in freshman Caroline Hedwell, whose 10-under 280 was the best score of anyone at the Women's World Amateur Team Championship in Australia and helped the Swedes easily win the Espirito Santo Trophy. Look for her to continue her strong play in California.
Next event: Stanford Intercollegiate, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 17-19

5. Georgia (5)
Only one more week until the Bulldogs finally get back on the course after a 37-day layoff. Just how long really has it been since Georgia last played a tournament ... see the Stat of the Week below.
Next event: The Derby Invitational, Auburn University Club, Auburn, Ala., Oct. 24-26

STAT OF THE WEEK
2,079.76
The amount the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped since the Georgia women last played a tournament, through the close of business Oct. 16. When the Bulldogs won the Cougar Fall Classic on Sept. 16), the Dow closed at 11,059.02. At the end of the day this past Thursday, it was at 8,979.26

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
* I haven't had a chance to talk with Lucas Lee and I don't know the specific thought process he went through in deciding this week to leave the UCLA program and turn professional. That said, the move from 3,000-plus miles away here in Connecticut seems a bit strange and speaks to a larger issue that's becoming more and more of a headache for college coaches. Why does a player come back and play one tournament your senior year and then decide to leave the program? Why not simply tell coach Derek Freeman that you're going to leave school a year early and give Q school a shot? Better to be all in or all out at the start of the season rather than jump mid-stream.

The issue becomes a problem for coaches in that they don't know how to plan for things and frequent left "eating" scholarship money. A coach has the working plan that Player A will be around for the 2008-09 season. If that player then tells the coach beyond a certain point they're leaving, the coach hasn't had time to recruit a replacement for that player and thus while having the player's scholarship money available, doesn't have anybody to offer a scholarship too.

It's why you almost have to admire the way Clemson junior Kyle Stanley has handled his decision to leave school at the end of this academic year. Stanley didn't keep things secret from Tiger coach Larry Penley, but was up front and told him early enough where Penley can recruit from this year's high school class and know he has to find somebody to replace the All-American. If Stanley didn't tell Penley until say this January that he was leaving after June, Penley would then be stuck because the major portion of the recruiting season for high school seniors would have already passed by.

Freeman, meanwhile, set up his squad assuming that Lucas Lee would be a valuable part of the team in 2008-09. Now Lee is gone, and Freeman and the rest of the team are stuck having to adjust. It's not the end of the world, but it sure didn't have to go down this way, either.

* Whether you'll see the Duke Coca-Cola Individual Collegiate on the fall schedule again in 2009 is uncertain, but the concept of hosting an individual event to allow players to participate in more college tournaments is an intriguing one that coaches should more seriously explore. Sixty-three players from schools at the Division I, II and III level competed at Duke University GC this past week in Durham (ironically the Blue Devils didn't have any of their own players in the field). The event allowed them to get some real tournament experience on a championship level course, as well as allowed a few assistant coaches who attended the event the chance to get to coach during a tournament as well. If a few more of these type of events began regionally, I think it would be a good thing for the college game as you'd have outlets for players who otherwise might be languishing back on campus.

TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH
MEN
Sycuan Collegiate Invitational
Sycuan Resort's Willow Glen GC, El Cajon, Calif.
Oct. 20-21
Host: San Diego State
Field: Air Force, Arkansas State, Army, Colorado State, Denver, Fresno State, George Mason, Hawaii, Idaho, Loyola Marymount, San Diego, San Diego State, San Jose State, UC Riverside, UTEP, UC Santa Barbara, Wichita State, Wyoming, Yale
Defending champion: Wichita State (20-over 884) by six strokes over San Diego State; Wichita State's Ryan Spears (one-under 215) by two strokes over UC-Riverside's Nick Paez
Skinny: Event being played for just the second year

WOMEN
Stanford Intercollegiate
    (For live results, link here to Golfstat)
Stanford GC, Stanford, Calif.
Oct. 17-19
Host: Stanford
Field: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Duke, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Southern California, Stanford, Texas, UCLA, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Washington
Defending champion: Arizona State (10-over 862) by four strokes over Duke; Arkansas' Stacy Lewis (two-under 211) by one stroke over Arizona State's Jennifer Osborn
Skinny: Finally, except for Arizona State, we've got all the best women's teams playing against each other again.

Lady Northern
    (For live results, link here to Golfstat)
Kampen Course, West Lafayette, Ind.
Oct. 18-19
Host: Purdue
Field: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Toledo, Wisconsin
Defending champion: Kent State (14-over 878) by 13 strokes over Michigan State; Kent State's Kira Meixner (four-under 212) by three strokes over Michigan State's Laura Kueny
Skinny: The tournament is held annually at the course that will host the Big Ten Championship the next spring and all 11 conference teams are in the field this year.

Lady Pirate Intercollegiate
    (For live results, link here to Golfstat)
Greenville CC, Greenville, S.C.
Oct. 19-21
Host: East Carolina
Field: Appalachian State, East Carolina, East Tennessee State, Elon, Florida International, Gardner-Webb, Georgetown, Georgia State, High Point, James Madison, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Nebraska, Old Dominion, Presbyterian, Richmond, UTEP, Western Carolina, Winthrop, William & Mary, Xavier
Defending champion: Not held in 2007
Skinny: The Pirates resume hosting this fall event after a one-year hiatus. In four of five playings, the hosts have finished either first or second.

After opening the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 12th-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational last month, the UCLA men's team suffered another set back in their bid to repeat as NCAA champions when the school announced Oct. 14 that Lucas Lee was turning pro, forgoing the rest of his senior season. Lee is scheduled to play in the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School later this month, but makes his pro debut Oct. 15 in a tournament on the Golden State Tour.

"I would like to thank everyone at UCLA for helping me during my college career," Lee (right) said in a statement. "I will miss my teammates, the coaches and UCLA, but this has been my dream and it's time to pursue it."

UCLA coach Derek Freeman admitted that losing the 21-year-old, a starter on last year's national championship team, with the season already underway would be tough on the Bruins program. "We are disappointed that he is leaving UCLA," Freeman said. "He feels that he is ready to pursue professional golf, and we wish him great success. Our team will move on and is focused on becoming the best team in the country."

Lee, who failed to get through the first stage of PGA Tour Q school last year while competing as an amateur, had won five college tournaments during his career while posting a 72.7 stroke average. He was a third-team All-American as a sophomore. This past summer he finished fourth in the Porter Cup and advanced to match play at the Western Amateur.

UCLA started the season ranked No. 1 in the Golf World/Nike Golf coaches' poll but fell No. 13 in the latest edition of the poll, released this week. The Bruins' next varsity start is at the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational Oct. 26-28.