Men's Golf | 01.18.2019

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota men's golf team has been picked to finish at the top of the Summit League in the poll conducted of its member coaches the league announced Friday.
 
The Coyotes garnered 55 points with four first-place votes. The poll showed Denver in second with 53 points and Oral Roberts third with 49. It marks the second-straight season the Coyotes have been picked atop the league in the preseason poll.
 
"The Summit League is very competitive," head coach John Vining said. "It is great to be recognized by the rest of the league. The result of the poll should be credited to our players. Any athlete in our lineup has the ability to contend each week that we compete. Our expectations for this spring are to be present, enjoy the process and compete to the finish."
 
South Dakota concluded the fall schedule with the league's best stroke average with 291.7 strokes per round, nearly three shots ahead of second place Oral Roberts. The Coyotes shot a team-low round of 6-under-par at the Golfweeek Program Challenge with 282 strokes and tallied six rounds of 289 or better.
 
Senior Tommy Vining, the reigning Summit League Golfer of the Year, was tabbed the Coyotes' Golfer to Watch. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native is averaging 75 strokes per round and has tallied three rounds at or below par. For his career, he averages 73.5 strokes per round with 29 rounds at or below par.
 
"Tommy currently holds the career-low scoring average in our program," Vining said. "His success is a result of his consistent work ethic, competitiveness and commitment towards the game. He has a professional approach to the game that has earned him great respect within the Summit League."
 
The Coyotes begin their spring season Feb. 10-12 at the UNC Greensboro Banyan Creek Collegiate, taking place in Palm City, Florida. The Summit League Championship is slated for April 28-30 in Newton, Kansas.
 
"The first two weeks of practice were really good," Vining added. "I am starting to see different guys step up and bring more leadership to the table, and that is exciting. Ultimately, that is the goal, getting these guys to lead each other to a new level and the rest will take care of itself."
 
Preseason Poll

Program	Points
1. South Dakota	55 (4)
2. Denver	53 (3)
3. Oral Roberts	49
4. North Dakota State	48 (2)
5. South Dakota State	39
6. Purdue Fort Wayne	28
Omaha	28
8. Western Illinois	15
9. North Dakota	9