GAC selects preseason rankings for men's golf

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (GAC) - The Great American Conference men's golf coaches have selected Southwestern Oklahoma State as the preseason favorites to win the 2013 conference championship, the league office announced on Thursday.

The Bulldogs claimed the 2012 GAC Championship at Hot Springs Country Club last April. They return three players that finished in the top 10 at that GAC Championships. Wouter MyBurgh placed third in April; Jordan Hudson took fifth and Vincent Stong tied for seventh.

Arkansas Tech, runner-up at the GAC Championship, placed second in the preseason poll and garnered a pair of first-place votes. Luke Calcatera enters his second season as the Wonder Boys' head coach. He claimed the GAC's Coach of the Year and his squad features the reigning GAC Player of the Year - Rowdy Garrett. He took second at the GAC Championship and tied for 12th at the NCAA D-II Midwest/South Central Regional.

Harding placed third and received the final first-place vote. The Bisons return 2012 GAC Freshman of the Year Brandon Clark. He led the Bisons at the GAC Championship with a sixth-place showing and he registered a pair of top-10 finishes during his freshman campaign.

Southeastern Oklahoma State, Henderson State and East Central took the next three places in the preseason poll, separated by one point apiece. The Reddies return Matt Jennings, the medalist at the GAC Championship. He beat Garrett in a playoff and became the first men's golfer at HSU to win an individual conference championship since the institution joined Division II in 1994.

Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the poll. Coaches did not include provisional members Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene in the preseason ballot.

The GAC Championship returns to Hot Springs, Ark. and the Hot Springs Country Club. The Championship will take place from April 14-16.