FAIRMONT, W. Va. - The University of Charleston is the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite in men’s golf, the league announced Friday. The Golden Eagles earned seven first place votes with 97 total points.
Charleston, the reigning MEC Champions completed the 2025-26 season at the NCAA DII Men's Golf Championship after qualifying as a team. The Golden Eagles finished 20th nationally, after earning the MEC’s Coach of the Year award and placing three student athletes on the league's all-conference list.
Glenville State was selected as second behind Charleston, earning 83 total points with one first place vote. The Pioneers finished second at the 2025 MEC Championship by three strokes. Additionally, GSU placed three student athletes on the all-conference team.
Wheeling finished third with two first place votes, followed by Fairmont State, West Liberty, Davis & Elkins, West Virginia Wesleyan, Concord, Point Park, Shawnee State and West Virginia State. The Hilltoppers additionally earned one first place vote.
Additionally, Wheeling qualified as a team for the 2026 NCAA DII Men's Golf Championship. While Glenville State's Hector Arriaga and West Liberty’s Adam Gill were selected to compete as individuals.
The Mountain East Conference men’s golf championship will be held this year at the Palmer Golf Course at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia. The men’s golf championship will take place on October 4-6.
The 2026 MEC men’s golf season is set to begin Thursday, September 4, 2026.
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2026 MEC Men’s Golf Preseason Poll
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Rank
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School (First Place Votes)
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Voting
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1.
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Charleston
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97 (7)
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2.
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Glenville State
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83 (1)
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3.
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Wheeling
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78 (2)
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4.
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Fairmont State
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73
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5.
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West Liberty
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68 (1)
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6.
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Davis & Elkins
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57
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7.
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West Virginia Wesleyan
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41
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8.
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Concord
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37
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T-9.
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Point Park
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27
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T-9.
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Shawnee State
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27
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11.
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West Virginia State
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19
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* Coaches were not permitted to vote for own team