MADISON, S.D. -- The North Star Athletic Association's defending-men's golf champion Bellevue University was chosen as the favorite to claim the 2016-17 NSAA Championship in the annual coaches' preseason poll.
Bellevue garnered six of seven first place votes to gain 48 points in the poll. BU won the inaugural NSAA Men's Golf Tournament in 2016 – their fifth-straight conference title – to qualify for the NAIA National Tournament for the fifth-straight year. The Bruins finished in 29th place at the National Tournament.
Viterbo picked up the other first place vote to earn 38 points and be named second in the preseason poll. Jamestown recorded 32 points to finish third, followed by Waldorf and Valley City State in fourth and fifth place with 26 and 23 points, respectively. Dickinson State was predicted to finish sixth with 17 points and Presentation seventh with 11 points.
There are four rounds in the NSAA Men's Golf Conference Tournament, with the first two rounds being held in the fall on Sept. 26-27 in Albert Lea, Minn., hosted by Waldorf. The final two rounds take place in the spring on April 24-25 in La Crosse, Wis., hosted by Viterbo.
The winner of the NSAA Men's Golf Conference Tournament – after all four rounds (two in fall, two in spring) are complete – will receive an automatic team bid to the NAIA National Tournament. The 2017 NAIA Men's Golf National Tournament is slated to take place in Moline, Ill. from May 23-26 at the TPC Deere Run.
Here is the complete 2016-17 NSAA Men's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll:
1. Bellevue (6) – 48
2. Viterbo (1) – 39
3. Jamestown – 32
4. Waldorf – 26
5. Valley City State – 23
6. Dickinson State – 17
7. Presentation – 11
