This week's syllabus: April 1-7

__THE FAB FIVE

My look at the top five school in the country right now

MEN__

1. Oklahoma State (Last week: 4)

Now that's more like it. The Cowboys flexed a little muscle in taking the Linger Longer title last weekend, placing three golfers in the top 10. Even more interesting is the fact they won while Peter Uihlein and Morgan Hoffmann finished 29th and T-38. Maybe the depth everyone has been talking about is really starting to surface.

Next event: Morris Williams Intercollegiate, University of Texas GC, Austin, Texas, April 5-6

__2. Oregon __(1)

No sooner had the Ducks won their home event than they were down in San Diego for the Barona Collegiate. Perhaps a third-place finish was the best you could have realistically expected. The team still doesn't get much time to catch its breathe, however, as they're back on the road this weekend in Arizona.

Next event: ASU Thunderbird Invitational, ASU Karsten Course, Tempe, Ariz., April 2-3

3. Stanford (2)

The Cardinal prepare for the desert showdown with their lineup fully in place (David Chung back playing; Joseph Bramlett starting again) although history isn't on their side. Surprisingly, the school has never won at ASU it the event's 37-year-history.

Next event: ASU Thunderbird Invitational, ASU Karsten Course, Tempe, Ariz., April 2-3

4. Texas (3)

Home-course advantage might be the difference at this week's Morris Williams, although interestingly the Longhorns are only an occasional winners in the event, winning it just twice since 1994. In that same span, just four Longhorns have won medalist honors.

Next event: Morris Williams Intercollegiate, University of Texas GC, Austin, Texas, April 5-6

5. Texas A&M (NR)

The Aggies made it through a 10 day road trip that included playing at the Callaway Match Play (fourth) and the Linger Longer (third). Sufice it to say, they're quietly rounding into form as they prepare to defend their NCAA title. They haven't finished worse than fifth in an event all spring.

Next event: Morris Williams Intercollegiate, University of Texas GC, Austin, Texas, April 5-6

WOMEN

It's been 74 years since a golfer last won the Sullivan Award, given by the AAU to the year's top amateur athlete. Still Jennifer Song, one of 14 semifinalists hopes her historic 2009 season might give her a chance to end the drought.

Next event: Ping ASU Invitational, Karsten GC, Tempe, Ariz., April 9-11

The Bruins claim their long-sought first victory of the 2009-10 season at the Betsy Rawls and do it with style, posting the low score in the final round at U. of Texas GC. A confident bunch is only getting more confident.

Next event: Ping ASU Invitational, Karsten GC, Tempe, Ariz., April 9-11

Something tells me the Sun Devils have been back at home the past few weeks, watching all the top schools positioning themselves to take ASU's NCAA title, and saying to themselves: "Not so fast!" This is a hard working bunch, and they've been working at hard lately to get ready for the post-season.

Next event: Ping ASU Invitational, Karsten GC, Tempe, Ariz., April 9-11

4. Duke (NR)

I wasn't sure what to make of the Blue Devils victory at the NCAA Fall Preview last October as it came as a bit of a surprise. But their win last weekend at the Liz Murphey felt like a vintage Dukie W. Only Alison Whitaker was part of the three-peat NCAA champ, but she's proving to be a good leader to this young group.

Next event: Bryan National Collegiate, Bryan Park Champions GC, Brown Summit, N.C., April 2-4

The Crimson Tide rallied at the Liz Murphey after a slow start to finish second. Coach Mic Potter was particularly pleased with the play of freshman Jennifer Kirby, who tied for second. Meanwhile, I love the fact that the team is flying west to play at ASU. Sounds cliche, but it's going to be a great learning experience.

Next event: Ping ASU Invitational, Karsten GC, Tempe, Ariz., April 9-11

__STAT OF THE WEEK

9

__Number of consecutive years that the medalist at the Bryan National Collegiate has then gone on to be named either a first or second-team All-American by the National Golf Coaches Association. Indeed, only once (Lindsay Smith, Furman, 1999)  in the tournament's 11-year history has the winner not claimed some level of All-American honors at the end of the season.

__Year, Bryan National winner

__2009, Megan McChrystal, LSU (2nd team)

2008, Stacy Lewis, Arkansas (1st)

2007, Sandra Gal, Florida (1st) & Maria Hernandez, Purdue (1st)

2006, Taylor Leon, Georgia (2nd)

2005, Brittany Lang, Duke (1st)

2004, Liz Janangelo, Duke (1st)

2003, Nuria Clau, Wake Forest (2nd)

2002, Virada Nirapathpongporn, Duke (1st)

2001 Candy Hannemann, Duke (1st)

2000, Marcy Newton, North Carolina (Honorable mention)

1999, Linsday Smith, Furman

1998, Reilly Rankin, Georgia (1st)

__WHAT TO WATCH FOR

__* Collegians playing at the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco

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TOURNAMENT PREVIEWS__

__MEN

Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

ASU Karsten Course, Tempe, Ariz.

April 2-3

Host: Arizona State

Field: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, California, Colorado State, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State, Stanford, UC-Irvine, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Washington, Washington State

Defending champion: Arizona State (-14/838) by 18 strokes over Denver and San Diego State; Arizona State's Stephan Gross and New Mexico's Steve Saunders (-3/210) shared the individual title

Skinny: You've got to go low to win this event; only once in the last 11 years has the winning team shot over par. The average winning team score in that time: 22.3 under par

__Administaff Augusta State Invitational

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

Forest Hills CC, Augusta, Ga.

April 3-4

Host: Augusta State

Field: Augusta State, Alabama, Chattanooga, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Houston, Illinois, Kent State, Lamar, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee, UNC Greensboro, USC Aiken, Virginia Tech

Defending champion: Augusta State (-36/828) by 13 strokes over Chattanooga; Augusta State's Taylor Floyd (-14/202) by four strokes over Derek Rende

Skinny: A trio of ACC schools are in the field this week, but there chances of winning seem slim if recent history holds form. Five times in the events first 16 years an ACC won the title but only once in the last 15 years (1995, Florida State).

__Irish Creek Collegiate

__The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis, N.C. (Par 71, 7,099 yards)

April 3-4

Host: Charlotte

Field: Belmont Abbey, Charlotte, Campbell, Davidson, Elon, Francis Marion, Kennesaw State, Marquette, Mercer, Miami (Ohio), Ohio State, Richmond, Toledo

Defending champion: VCU (-28/836) by seven strokes over Louisville; Marquette's Mike Van Sickle (-16/200) by two strokes over VCU's Vincent Nadeau

Skinny: The tournament is a continuation of the original Birkdale Collegiate (1998-2006) and Palisades Collegiate Classic (2007-09). Charlotte had won the event four straight years until VCU ended the 49ers run a year ago.

__Adidas Hoosier Invitational

__Indiana University GC, Bloomington, Ind. (Par 71, 6,183 yards)

April 3-4

Host: Indiana

Field: Ball State, Brown, Butler, Canisius, Cleveland State, DePaul, Detroit Mercy, Eastern Kentucky, Evansville, George Washington, Indiana, IUPUI, IPFW, Oakland, Ohio, St. Bonaventure, Valparaso, Youngstown State

Defending champion: Indiana (-13/839) by 27 strokes over Eastern Kentucky; Indiana's Jorge Campillo (-10/203) by five strokes over Indiana's David Erdy

Skinny: The host Hoosiers are in need of a big event this weekend; they enter the tournament with a 36-52-2 head-to-head record and in jeopardy of being ineligible for the NCAA postseason due to the .500 rule.

__The Bancorp South Intercollegiate

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

Reunion G&CC, Madison, Miss.

April 5-6

Host: Mississippi

Field: UAB, Florida, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Florida, Rice, Santa Clara, South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, UCF,  Vanderbilt

Defending champion: LSU (+25/889) by three strokes over Arkansas; Arkansas' Andrew Landry (-1/215) by three strokes over Vanderbilt's Adam Hofmann

Skinny: I wrote about Ole Miss junior Jonathan Randolph's impressive season for Golf World this past week. From talking with him and coach Ernest Ross, I get the feeling we might see him make another statement this week in his quest to claim SEC and national player-of-the-year honors.

__Diet Pepsi Shocker Classic

__Wichita CC, Wichita, Kan. (Par 71, 6,814 yards)

April 5-6

Host: Wichita State

Field: Bowling Green State, Drake, Hutchinson CC, Kansas, UMKC, Nebraska, Northeastern State, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma City, South Dakota State, UT-Arlington, Texas Wesleyan, Wayland Baptist, Wichita State, Williams Woods

Defending champion: Kansas State (+21/589) by 13 strokes over Iowa State; Wichita State's Ty Sanders (E/142) by one stroke over Wichita State's Dustin Garza

Skinny: Tournament provides a cool chance for some smaller programs to mix with Division I competition.

__Morris Williams Intercollegiate

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

University of Texas GC, Austin, Texas

April 5-6

Host:Texas

Field: Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia, Kansas State, LSU, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UT-San Antonio

Defending champion: Oklahoma State (+11/863) by 25 strokes over Arkansas; Oklahoma State's Morgan Hoffmann and USC's Tom Glissmeyer (-1/212) share the individual title

Skinny: Former medalist in the 43-year-old event read like a who's who of college golf: Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Payne Stewart and Justin Leonard to name a few.

__WOMEN

Bryan National Collegiate

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

Bryan Park Champions GC, Brown Summit, N.C.

April 2-4

Host: UNC Greensboro/Wake Forest

Field: Arkansas, Auburn, Charleston, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, LSU, North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, N.C. State, Northwestern, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest

Defending champion: LSU (+23/887) by four strokes over Virginia; LSU's Megan McChrystal (-1/215) by three strokes over East Carolina's Abby Bools and Wake Forest's Nannette Hill

Skinny: Eight schools in the most recent Golf World/NGCA women's coaches' poll are in the field, including four of the top 15.

__Rebel Intercollegiate

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

Ole Miss GC, Oxford, Miss.

April 2-4

Host: Mississippi

Field: UALR, Augusta State, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State, Illinois State, Kansas, Kennesaw State, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Murray State, Oklahoma, Princeton, South Florida, SMU, Southern Mississippi, Texas A&M, Tulane, Wisconsin

Defending champion: Tulane (+25/889) by 12 strokes over Mississippi; Mississippi's Dori Carter (+1/217) won in a playoff over Tulane's Linn Gustafsson

Skinny: The field for the tournament, in just its second year of existence, has expanded from 14 to 20

__Canes & Cardinal Classic

__Don Shula's Golf Resort, Miami Lakes, Fla.

April 5-6

Host: Miami/Louisville

Field: Akron, Cincinnati, Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Kansas State, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Maryland, Penn State, Texas Pan American, Troy

Defending champion: San Jose State (+23/887) by 23 strokes over Princeton and Washington State; San Jose State's Erica Moston (-2/214) by five strokes over Princeton's Susannah Aboff

Skinny: The tournament is potentially the second to last event in Miami coach Lela Cannon's standout career overseen the Hurricanes' women's squad.