Duke Women's Team Maintains Top Spot in Coaches' Poll

The fifth and final Golf World/NGCA Division I Coaches’ Poll of the spring season has been released as determined by Golf World magazine and the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA). The complete results, including results from Divisions II and III, will appear in the May 9th issue of Golf World and can be viewed online at www.golfworld.com.

Duke remains the No. 1 team, earning 13 of 25 first-place votes. The Blue Devils, who won their 13th straight ACC Championship last month, are the top seed in the NCAA East Regional that begins Thursday at the University of Georgia Golf Club. Duke is looking to win an unprecedented fourth straight NCAA title.

In a related note, Duke junior Amanda Blumenherst has been named the first recipient of the Nancy Lopez Award, given annually to the world's most outstanding female amateur.

Southern California jumped past UCLA (No. 3) for the number two spot in the poll, after winning the Pac-10 Championship title last month. The Trojans received the remaining 12 first-place votes. Arizona State (No. 4) and Florida (No. 5) round out the rest of the top-five.

All 25 squads that are represented in the poll will be competing in the three NCAA regionals that take place May 8-9.

Women's Division I (Rank Team Points Last)

1. Duke (13) 630 1
2. Southern California (12) 624 3
3. UCLA 598 2
4. Arizona State 557 4
5. Florida 550 5
6. Purdue 501 6
7. Georgia 466 7
8. Arkansas 464 10
9. Auburn 425 9
10. Alabama 413 8
11. Oklahoma State 396 11
12. Denver 383 12
13. Arizona 344 13
14. Kent State 332 14
15. Wake Forest 292 15
16. Pepperdine 250 17
17. Tennessee 210 16
18. California 193 18
19. Virginia 161 23
20. Michigan State 159 19
21. LSU 126 20
22. New Mexico 112 21
23. Texas A&M 107 22
24. Stanford 78 24
25. Notre Dame 33 25

Others receiving votes: Florida State, 14; Texas, 14; Vanderbilt, 6; New Mexico State, 4; Louisville, 3; Oregon, 2; BYU, 1; East Carolina, 1; Tulsa, 1.