Full GCAA Release

NORMAN, Okla. – After a major win at the Cougar Invitational earlier this week, Carson-Newman has moved to No. 8 in the nation in the latest Bushnell Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll as released by the Golf Coaches Association of America on Friday afternoon.

This is the highest a Carson-Newman team has landed in a GCAA poll since Randy Wylie came to the helm. The Eagles also received one first-place vote in the poll. They moved eight spots up the list since August's preseason poll where they were in a tie for 16th.

Two other South Atlantic Conference teams are ranked. Lincoln Memorial fell seven spots to No. 17 while Newberry fell eight spots to No. 20.

The victory earlier this week in Columbus, Ga. came against a high-quality field that held seven other nationally ranked teams including No. 2 Florida Southern, No. 3 Lynn, No. 6 Florida Tech and No. 21 Limestone. Host team Columbus State and Lee were also among the ranked sides but have since fallen out of the latest rankings.

The first win of the season is in the books for No. 16 @cnmensgolf at the Aflac/Cougar Invitational. @JakeHeadrick was the top Eagle, landing in a tie for fourth.

��: https://t.co/deI4dGUxfX pic.twitter.com/E93Rb2mIXS

— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) September 25, 2018

Carson-Newman was 10-under the final round with a 274 total. The team's 843 total marked the lowest 54-hole total since the University of North Georgia Fall Invitational back in 2015 when the Eagles shot an 840. Jake Headrick (Maryville, Tenn.) and Tom Forster (Oundle, England) were among the top-20 in the field in ties for fourth and 12^th-place respectively.

C-N finished in the top-10 of both of the tournaments it has traveled to this season. Before the win in Columbus, Wylie's group tied for sixth at the Coker Fall Challenge. Forster was second in the field at the event while freshman Will Collins (Knoxville, Tenn.) landed in a tie for 10th as an individual.

The Eagles are gearing up for their final event of the fall with a trip to West Palm Beach, Fla. for No. 5 Nova Southeastern's Shark Invitational on Oct. 8 and 9.