Fayetteville, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference has released its preseason coaches poll for men's golf, with N.C. Wesleyan being picked to finish seventh overall. The Battling Bishops earned 40 points in the poll, which was topped by LaGrange College with eight first-place votes.

Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Gregg Ripke, Wesleyan looks to be a surprise team in the league this season with five returners and two quality newcomers that combined for a solid fall season. The Bishops, in fact, wrapped up the fall with an impressive 3rd-place showing at the highly-competitive Ted Keller Memorial, which resulted in Wesleyan sweeping the USA South weekly awards for the first time in program history. Newcomers Chris Freeman and Matthew May did the honors by being tabbed the league's Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively. 

Leading the returners is junior Lucas Norman, who has led the team in stroke average in each of his first two seasons. He will be joined by four-year letterwinner Allen-Michael Wilson, junior Stephen Bardswick, and sophomores Raul de Leon and Tommy Nakamura.

Wesleyan opens its spring season on March 1st at Mars Hill's Weekend in Wilmington. The 2014 USA South Men's Golf Tournament will be played April 11-13 at Benvenue Country Club as a part of the USA South Spring Sports Festival in Rocky Mount.