Release Link: https://usasouth.net/sports/golf/2018-19/releases/20190213es1vbt

12th ranked NC Wesleyan College, the defending USA South Tournament Champions, were picked to finish third in the regular season this year behind defending national champions Methodist and Huntingdon College.

Head Coach Gregg Ripke commented that, "We're proud to be in the top 3 with storied programs like Huntingdon and Methodist and don't mind the underdog role because we were picked to finish #3 last year and went on to win the tournament championship."

Wesleyan returns seven members of last year's team while bringing in three newcomers.

Huntingdon College (Ala.), under the direction of Head Coach Dave Schreyer, was picked to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2019 golf title in the preseason coaches poll. Last spring, the Hawks placed third at the USA South Tournament then finished tied for 11th at the NCAA Division III National Championship. Huntingdon received ten of 11 first-place votes and 100 points as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting for the USA South preseason poll.

Methodist University, the defending NCAA Division III National Champions, ranked second in the poll with 89 points and the remaining first place vote. The defending USA South Champions, N.C. Wesleyan College, placed third in the voting with 77 points while Greensboro College (NC) wasn't far behind in fourth with 71 points.

The USA South has five teams, Huntingdon (2nd), Methodist (8th), N.C. Wesleyan (13th), Greensboro (15th), and LaGrange College (Ga.) (17th) currently ranked in the Golfstat National Top-25.

The USA South welcomed Brevard College (NC) and Pfeiffer University (NC) last season. These two institutions are currently reclassifying from NCAA Division II status and still will not be eligible for USA South or NCAA Tournament play until full DIII membership is established, thus they are not included in the preseason poll.

The 2019 USA South Golf Tournament will be played April 25-27 at the Highland Country Club in LaGrange, Georgia as a part of the USA South Spring Sports Festival, hosted by the City of LaGrange and Troup County. The top-nine Conference teams according to the April 17th Golfstat rankings will advance to the tournament. Additionally, the top-three golfers, according to the April 17th Golfstat rankings, from teams which did not qualify for the tournament shall compete as individuals. Brevard and Pfeiffer athletes, as individuals, are eligible for this participation should any qualify.