Morningside is ranked 17th in the first regular-season NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Top 25 poll.

Morningside is ranked 17th in the first regular-season NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Top 25 poll.

The Mustangs had received votes in the preseason poll released in August. Strong performances throughout the fall were enough for the Mustangs to receive 231 points for a ranking of No. 17. Oklahoma City had the No.1 spot with 528 points.

“It’s a great start to the season by our guys. The GPAC has tremendous depth this year, plus we have competition within our team itself. It has definitely been helping the performances of our varsity five. Guys are being pushed day in and day out,” said Mustangs Head Golf Coach Todd Sapp.

Morningside kicked off its season back in August with a second-place finish at the Morningside Invitational. The team then took first place finishes at the Siouxland Invitational and the Midland Fall Invite. They finished second at the Grand View Viking Classic, and were also in second coming out of the fall qualifier of the GPAC Men’s Championship.

Three Mustang golfers leading the effort for the team have been Cody Holck, Sam Storey, and Corey Matthews. Holck is a senior from Ankeny, Iowa, who has consistently placed first or second as an individual, most recently winning the championship at the Grand View Viking Classic.Storey is a freshman from Surrey England took second at the GPAC Championship fall qualifier and has had regular top 10 appearances, as has Corey Matthew, a junior from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

While pleased with the start, Sapp knows it’s only the beginning for the team. “We have a long way to go until reaching one of our goals, which is being at Nationals in May – but currently being acknowledged with a 17th place ranking is great place to build from.”