ATLANTA, Ga. (February 25, 2026) – Fresh off a runner-up finish at last year’s conference championship and a historic fall campaign, Huntingdon sits atop the 2026 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Men’s Golf Preseason Poll. This year’s poll was determined by Clippd rankings as of Feb. 18. The Hawks carry significant momentum into the spring after posting top three finishes in three of their four fall tournaments, including back-to-back victories at the Tartan Invitational and the O’Briant-Jensen Memorial.
This is the third consecutive season the Hawks have been placed atop the preseason poll. Huntingdon currently stands No. 1 in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll — the program’s first time atop the national rankings since October 2017 — and enters the spring ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III. Last season, the Hawks capped their year with a sixth-place finish in a 43-team field at the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship. The Hawks return an experienced and decorated lineup, highlighted by senior All-Americans Stephen Baker and Jack Burr, the reigning CCS Golfer of the Year. Also back are all-conference standouts Cole Humphrey and Jack Hundley who look to lead the Hawks to a championship title.
Piedmont was positioned second in the preseason rankings after capturing its second consecutive CCS Championship in dramatic fashion last spring. Piedmont edged Huntingdon in a sudden-death playoff, with all five players from each team returning to the 18th hole. Four of the Lions hit the green in regulation, delivering steady two-putt pars to secure a 1-over team score that clinched the title by two strokes. On the national stage, the Lions made a strong showing at the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship, posting the third-largest second-round improvement in the field by climbing 12 spots into a tie for 28th. Piedmont finished inside the top 60 nationally and enters the spring ranked No. 21 in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll and No. 25 in Clippd rankings. The Lions return senior Adam Rogers and juniors Doug Gugel and Jacob DeJesus — all-conference performers — under the leadership of reigning CCS Coach of the Year Dustin Meadows, now in his third season at the helm.
Covenant was slated third in the preseason poll after recording the best conference finish in program history last season. The Scots placed third at the CCS Championship — their highest finish in the NCAA Division III era dating back to 2013. Covenant returns junior Drew Silman, who captured top medalist honors at the conference championship to become the first player in school history to win an individual CCS title. The Scots currently sit among the Top 100 programs nationally and will look to build on last year’s breakthrough performance.
LaGrange was projected fourth in the preseason poll following a fourth place showing at last year’s championship tournament. The Panthers were paced in the final round by CCS Rookie of the Year CJ Kilkelly, who fired a 76 to close the event. Kilkelly returns this spring as LaGrange seeks to push further up the leaderboard and challenge for a spot near the top of the standings.
Maryville was ranked fifth in the preseason rankings after finishing fifth at last year’s championship. The Scots return Jack Porter, who placed tied for 29th individually, as they look to gain consistency throughout the lineup this spring.
Belhaven and Asbury complete the preseason rankings. Both programs enter the season focused on development and gaining valuable tournament experience as they continue to build depth within their squads.
The 2026 CCS Men’s Golf Championship will feature all league programs in a three-round tournament scheduled for Monday, April 27 through Wednesday, April 29 at Dalton Golf Course in Dalton, Georgia. Fans can follow all CCS men’s golf action throughout the season with updated scores, schedules, and standings at
www.collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com.
Below is a look at the 2026 CCS Men’s Golf Preseason Poll. First-place votes are in parentheses:
2026 CCS MEN’S GOLF PRESEASON POLL
| Ranking |
School |
| 1 |
Huntingdon College |
| 2 |
Piedmont University |
| 3 |
Covenant College |
| 4 |
LaGrange College |
| 5 |
Maryville College |
| 6 |
Belhaven University |
| 7 |
Asbury University |
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
Follow all things #CCS on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @ccofsouth for all the latest news around the league.