NAIA Coaches' Poll

Williamsburg, KY - Coming off a runner-up finish at the Mid-South Conference Championships and three tournament victories during the 2024-25 season, the University of the Cumberlands men's golf team opens the 2025-26 season receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Friday afternoon by the national office. This is the 4th consecutive year that the Pats have been mentioned in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

The Patriots closed last season with six top-three finishes, including wins at Bruins Golf Classic, the Lawrence Tech Spring Invitational, and the LTU Heritage Hill Collegiate, while placing second at the MSC Championships after posting back-to-back rounds under par to finish with an 872 (+8). UC finished 14 strokes ahead of third place and landed multiple golfers in the top 10 individually. 

Leading UC into the new season are three returning seniors: Eli Fischer, Lorenzo Fiato, and Pedro Morgado. 

Fischer capped his junior year with a strong showing at the MSC Championships, carding a 217 (+1) to place sixth overall. He opened with rounds of 72 (E) and 73 (+1) before finishing even-par in the final round, totaling 13 birdies across the tournament. Fischer posted his second top-10 finish of the season and averaged 75.2 strokes per round on the year. 

Fiato competed in two tournaments last season, once as an individual, and earned Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and MSC Academic All-Conference honors. He placed 22nd at the Bruins Golf Classic with a 162 (+18), highlighted by a season-best 78 (+6) in the final round of the Rohrman Invitational. Fiato averaged 79.6 strokes across five rounds and sank six birdies. 

Morgado was a consistent force in the Patriots lineup, competing in all 10 tournaments. He ranked 156th nationally in the NAIA and recorded top-three finishes at both the LTU Heritage Hill Collegiate (2nd, 217 +1) and the Bruins Golf Classic (3rd, 149 +5). Morgado also fired back-to-back rounds of 69 (-3) at the MSC Spring Championships to place eighth. He closed the year with a 74.0 scoring average over 29 rounds, sinking 70 birdies and two eagles along the way. In the classroom, he was also recognized as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and MSC Academic All-Conference honoree. 

Key returners also include junior Theo Andersson, who placed fourth at the MSC Championships with a 214 (-2), and classmate Saran Jantratit, who earned MSC Second Team All-Conference honors after averaging 74.9 as a freshman. Also returning is junior Pablo Lopez, who adds depth after competing at conference posting a 225 (+9). 

The Patriots graduated Jaime Crispi from last year's roster but bolster their squad with six newcomers who will push for playing time throughout the season. Supporting the program this year is Emily Allen, who transitions from UC's women's team into her first season as a graduate assistant. 

Cumberlands is one of several Mid-South programs mentioned in the preseason poll, joining Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) ranked at 1st, Campbellsville (Ky.) at 22nd, and Cumberland (Tenn.) receiving votes. 

The Patriots are set to open their 2025-26 season on September 8th and 9th in Indianapolis, IN at Indiana Wesleyan's Rohrman Invite. 

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