NORMAN, OK — The Francis Marion University men's golf team is ranked ninth in the initial GCAA/Precept Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 poll of the 2004-05 season.

    The defending national champion, USC Aiken, received nine first-place votes and sits atop the poll.  The University of West Florida is ranked No. 2, followed by California State University at Chico, Cal. State-Bakersfield, and Armstrong Atlantic State University.

    Francis Marion is one of five Peach Belt Conference schools in the poll.  After two tournaments, the Patriots own a 13-8-1 record, including a 9-3 mark against Division II opponents and a 3-2 record against squads appearing in the Top 25 poll.

    FMU will return to action Oct. 4-5 when the Patriots compete in the AFLAC/Cougar Invitational Tournament, hosted by 15th-ranked Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga.

    The GCAA/Precept Coaches Poll is voted on by a panel of head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Golf Coaches Association of America.

 #25/9-24-04