The Loop

Still Bruin: UCLA remains No. 1 in Golf World/NGCA poll

February 29, 2012

The loss of senior Stephanie Kono to the LPGA Tour in December hasn't put a damper on the UCLA women's outlook this spring. The Bruins won their fourth title of the 2011-12 season at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge and remain the top squad in the first spring edition of the Golf World/NGCA Division I coaches' poll, earning 22 of the 24 first-place votes.

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While technically Kono still leads the country in scoring according to Golfstat (her nine rounds played in the fall still counts above the minimum number of rounds needed to qualify), three active Bruins are also in the top 12—Lee Lopez, Erynee Lee and Tiffany Lua.

Alabama held on to the No. 2 spot in the poll (voting closed last Friday prior to the Allstate Sugar Bowl this past week), while USC and Auburn swapped spots, the Trojans moving up to No. 3 and the Tigers dropping to No. 4.

LSU, off its win at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, claimed the No. 5 spot.

Congrats to Baylor, which tied with Florida at No. 16. It's the highest ranking the Bears have held since Golf World started the poll back up in 2001-02.

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Nova Southeastern earned 12 of the 16 first-place votes to stay atop the Division II coaches' poll. The Sharks finished third in their first event of the spring, the Lady Moc Golf Classic, and have yet to finish worse than fourth in any event during the 2011-12 season.

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Death, taxes and Methodist being No. 1 in the Division III coaches' poll seem to be the biggest certainties in life. The Monarchs returned to action earlier this month at the BSC Ann Rhoads Invitational, finishing third, after winning twice in the fall.