COLUMBUS — According to the spring conference coaches poll, the Mississippi University for Women’s men’s golf team is the favorite to win the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The defending champions return four All-Conference players and the 2024 SLIAC coach of the year for the spring campaign, and are looking to repeat and secure a trip back to the NCAA Division III national championship tournament.
“We are very honored to be selected by the SLIAC coaches as the favorites,” MUW head coach Benji Williams said. “It is humbling when you consider the great teams and golfers that are in the SLIAC. And while we appreciate the ranking, we also know that we have not earned anything yet. There is a lot of golf to play, and work to do, for us to live up to those prognostications.”
Last season, the Owls won the SLIAC tournament in their first season as a D III program. In the final round, they defeated the six-time defending champs, Webster University, to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA III championships.
The Owls’ roster includes returning All-SLIAC first-teamers Matt Wilkinson and Zach Riley, as well as second-teamers Luke Yocum and Cameron James, who will play alongside senior Spence Davis. All five played for the Owls in the SLIAC and NCAA tournaments last spring.
The team carries a 291.9 stroke average from the fall, with six golfers averaging under 75.
The program entered the fall ranked 21st in the nation in the DIII poll. It recorded a team win at the Lyon College Scots Invitational and secured top-four finishes at three other events.
The Owls traveled to play in fall tournaments at three other ranked programs, including No. 6 Oglethorpe University, No. 8 LeTourneau University and No. 18 Berry College.
The Owls will begin their spring campaign at the Rose-Hulman Music City Invitational on Feb. 22-23 in Springfield, Tenn.
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