FHSU Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Fort Hays State men's golf team will head into the 2023-24 season ranked eighth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday (Aug. 31) by the league office.
The Tigers received 27 points in the balloting process, 12 behind seventh-place Missouri Western and 13 clear of ninth-ranked Lincoln. Defending conference champion Missouri Southern tops the poll after picking up just one more point than second-ranked Central Missouri.
Fort Hays State placed eighth in the season-long points standings in the league last season, including a sixth-place finish amongst league competition at the Newman Fall Invitational last October. The Tigers' top finish of the season was a t-4th result out of 20 teams at the NSIC Conference Preview Invitational in March.
The Tigers return five golfers from last year's squad, including four players that competed in at least four events last fall. Jackson Rader returns for his junior season after picking up All-MIAA accolades a year ago. FHSU also added three new players to the roster this season, including a pair of junior college transfers and one true freshman.
FHSU will open the season with an MIAA mandated event at the LU Invitational, hosted by Lincoln at The Club at Porto Cima in Sunrise Beach, Mo. September 11-12.
2023-24 MIAA Men's Golf Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern (3) - 62 points
2. Central Missouri (4) - 61 points
3. Central Oklahoma (1) - 52 points
4. Washburn - 51 points
5. Northeastern State (1) - 48 points
6. Rogers State - 40 points
7. Missouri Western - 39 points
8. Fort Hays State - 27 points
9. Lincoln - 14 points
10. Newman - 11 points