Familiar feel to latest college women's poll: USC No. 1

By Ryan Herrington

I promise there is some surprise in the latest Golf World/WGCA women's Division I coaches' poll. It's just not with team that's ranked No. 1.

USC returns to the top spot, winners of its first two fall events and in the middle of a school-record five-tournament win streak dating back to last spring. However, the Trojans weren't the only school to receive first-place votes.

Indeed, where the interesting news comes from this time is that five other programs in addition to the Women of Troy had at least one coach pick them as the best team in the land.

See for yourself ...

Indeed, in addition to USC, No. 2 UCLA, No. 5 Duke, No. 6 Alabama, No. 10 Stanford and No. 11 Washington all earned at least one first-place vote.

Some tidbits about this week's poll:

Lynn, winner at the Guy Harvey Invitational, stayed in the No. 1 spot in the latest Division II coaches' poll. The Fighting Knights garnered 18 of 21 available first-place votes. Rollins claimed the No. 2 spot with Barry coming in at No. 3 thanks to receiving two first-place votes.

Methodist, thanks to victories at the Martin & Wallace Invitational and the General's Invitational, reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the latest Division III coaches' poll. The Monarchs had last been ranked No. 1 in the coaches' poll in spring 2013, but came in at No. 2 in the first two Golf World polls of the fall. Their two wins this semester helped the school earn 15 of the 21 available first-place votes.

Moving up to second in the poll was Washington U. of St. Louis, with Texas-Tyler claiming the No. 3 spot and earning one first-place vote. Rounding out the top five are DePauw and Williams.

Previous No. 1-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor, the defending NCAA champions, earned five first-place votes but fell to No. 6 in the latest ranking after a runner-up finish at their home event last month.