SSAC releases 2026-27 Golf Preseason Polls

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference published its 2026-27 Men's and Women's Golf Preseason Polls on Thursday, slating the women's team third and the men's team eighth. There are eight total women's programs competing in the SSAC this season, while the men's side has 11. 
 

The Wolf Pack women collected 44 total points in the poll, tying Tennessee Southern for the third position. Dalton State's six first-place votes, as the defending conference champions had 60 total points, compared with William Carey's 58. The Crusaders also picked up two first-place nods. 
 

The Loyola program finished eighth last season in the NAIA with the program's eighth straight trip to the NAIA National Championship tournament. The team picked up three wins a season ago as well, and finished third in the conference tournament behind Dalton State and William Carey. Sarah Meral was named to a NAIA All-America team, too. 
 

The Loyola men's team gathered 46 total points, as Dalton State led the poll with 120 total points and 10 first-place votes. Abraham Baldwin got the one other first-place vote, but it was picked seventh by the league's coaches with 57 total points. Blue Mountain (98), William Carey (92), Point (82) and Tennessee Southern (78) make up the Top 5. 
 

The Wolf Pack men's team had a season-best second-place finish at the Spring Golden Tiger Collegiate last season, and individually, Cristobal Salome highlighted the season with co-individual medalist honors in the Alice Lloyd Eagle Invitational. The team placed eighth out of 10 teams at the conference championship event as well.  
 

2026-27 SSAC Women's Golf Coaches' Preseason Poll

1. Dalton State - 60 (6)
2. William Carey - 58 (2)
3. Loyola - 44
3. UT Southern - 44
5. Blue Mountain - 34
6. Point - 23
7. Mobile - 16
8. Faulkner - 9
 

2026-27 SSAC Men's Golf Coaches' Preseason Poll

1. Dalton State - 120 (10)
2. Blue Mountain - 98
3. William Carey - 92
4. Point - 82
5. UT Southern - 78
6. Faulkner - 67
7. Abraham Baldwin – 57 (1)
8. Loyola - 46
9. Mobile - 40
10. Andrew - 25
11. Brewton-Parker - 21
 

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