by Steve Carpenter-Hutchinson CC Sports Information
For the second-straight season, the Hutchinson Community College men's golf team opens the season ranked No. 1 in a national ranking.
The two-time defending national champion Blue Dragons were picked No. 1 in the preseason Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll, which was released on Friday.
The Blue Dragons earned 4 of the 5 first-place votes and led the poll with 49 points. New Mexico Junior College had the other first-place vote and is second with 41 points.
Hutchinson returns three players from last year's national championship team, including two first-team All-Americans in Dominic Clemons and Blake Saffell.
Clemons was tied for first place individually after 72 holes at the Odessa Country Club last season and lost in a two-hole playoff. Saffell finished fourth at the NJCAA Championships in 2022 and earned first-team All-America honors. Addison Alonzo is the third player back from last year's championship team.
Odessa, Midland and Eastern Florida State round out the preseason Top 5. Jayhawk Conference rival Dodge City is sixth and District III rival Indian Hills is tied for eighth. Garden City and Iowa Western are receiving votes in the preseason poll.
The Blue Dragons will have four fall tournaments starting next week and the Ryan Palmer Classic in Amarillo, Texas. The Blue Dragons will play host to the NJCAA National Preview at Sand Creek Station in Newton on Sept. 27-28.
The Blue Dragons will be part of Saturday's halftime festivities at the No. 2 Hutchinson-No. 7 Iowa Central football game – a 1 p.m. kickoff at Gowans Stadium. The Blue Dragons will receive their 2022 national championship rings.
Bushnell/Golfweek<br>NJCAA Division I Coaches Poll
Points1. Hutchinson (4)
2. New Mexico JC (1)
3. Odessa
4. Midland
5. Eastern Florida State
6. Dodge City
7. McLennan
T-8. Western Texas
T-8. Indian Hills
10. Calhoun