Panthers Women Golfers Receive National Ranking
By Florida Tech // October 18, 2012
Team Off To Hot Start
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Following a pair of top-three and a top-10 finish, Florida Tech women’s golf has entered the GolfWorld/Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Coaches’ Poll for Division II.
The Panthers are ranked No. 14 in the first poll after being unranked in the preseason.
“That just shows the coaches are recognizing us a program that really deserves to be looked at,” Florida Tech head coach Chris Saltmarsh said. “It’s nice to be recognized for our early play especially playing against opponents that are highly ranked year in and year out.”
Florida Tech began the season with a hot start, earning two third place finishes to open the season. The first came at the Division II Fall Preview which saw sophomore Rachel Polson emerge as champion. The Crimson and Gray followed with another top finish at the Lady Falcon Invitational.
Most recently, FIT came in sixth at the Guy Harvey Invitational this weekend in Palm Beach Gardens. The Panthers were topped by five fellow Sunshine State Conference schools. Consequently, these five teams (Nova Southeastern, Lynn, Barry, Rollins and Florida Southern) each cracked the top six in the GolfWorld poll.
Nova Southeastern came in at the top spot fresh off a victory in the Guy Harvey Invitational. Lynn was ranked second with Barry and Rollins rounding out the top five. Florida Southern entered at No. 6.
This is the second national poll to recognize the Panthers’ success during this season. Florida Tech opened the GolfStat national poll at No. 7 and have moved as high as No. 4 in that poll this year.
“We’ve been very consistent this year,” Saltmarsh said. “Last year, this is about the time we got recognized in the GolfStat polls. We kind of fell off the map to finish the fall and heading into the spring. Right now, it is a matter of maintaining and improving. We have set the bar high, but we’re looking to go a little higher.”
The fall season will conclude for the Panthers with the Saint Leo Invitational next week.
The two-day tournament will begin Tuesday in Dade City.
