Men’s Golf Favored to Defend NECC Title in 2011

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Elms College men's golf team was selected as the preseason favorite to win the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) title as announced by the league on Thursday.

Voting for the preseason poll is conducted by each member head coach.

The Blazers, who lost just one golfer from last season's NECC championship team, received 46 points and five of the seven possible first place votes. Elms will be led by third-year head coach and 2010 NECC Coach of the Year Craig Cowles. The team also welcomes back first team all-conference selections junior Phil Rurak (Wilbraham, Mass.) and sophomore Kyle Simard (Thorndike, Mass.), as well as sophomore Henry Fall (Harpswell, Maine) who was named Second Team All-NECC last season.

Here is a look at how the voting unfolded:

2011 NECC Men's Golf Coaches Poll (first place votes)
1. Elms - 46 (5)
2. Babson - 44 (2)
3. Springfield - 36
4. Becker - 25
5. Daniel Webster - 18
6. Mitchell - 15
7. Newbury - 12