Kansas City, MO - Coming off its first NAIA National Championship appearance since 2022 and a pair of tournament victories during the 2025-26 season, the University of the Cumberlands men's golf team opens the 2026-27 campaign ranked 22nd in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Friday by the national office.

The Patriots recorded five top three finishes last season, including victories at the East Tennessee Collegiate and Patriot Invite. UC also placed second at the MSC Fall Preview before finishing fourth at the Mid-South Conference Championship.

Cumberlands earned an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship at TPC Deere Run, marking the program's first appearance since 2022. The Patriots finished 20th nationally, while Pedro Morgado advanced through the 36-hole cut and tied for 27th individually.

Leading UC into the new season are seniors Colby Johnson and Pablo Lopez Martin, junior Saran Jantratit, and sophomore Thomas White.

Jantratit earned MSC Second Team All-Conference honors after posting a team-best 73.2 scoring average across 13 rounds. He finished tied for second at the East Tennessee Collegiate with a 137 (-7), highlighted by a hole-in-one during the final round.

 Johnson also earned MSC Second Team All-Conference honors, averaging 73.6 strokes across 22 rounds. He tied for third at the Patriot Invite with a 216 (E) and competed in the Patriots' lineup at the NAIA National Championship.

 Lopez Martin averaged 74.1 strokes over 17 rounds and earned MSC Academic All-Conference and NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors, while White posted a 74.2 scoring average during his freshman season and tied for ninth at the MSC Championship.

 Sophomores Radney Bales and Alex Bennett also return, while freshmen Isaac Jones and Jose Vidal join the Patriots' roster for the 2026-27 season.

 Cumberlands opens the season on September 14-15 at the Firehawk Invite at Canebrake Club in Athens, Alabama.

The Patriots are one of three Mid-South Conference teams mentioned in the preseason poll, alongside No. 4 Lindsey Wilson and Cumberland (Tenn.), who is receiving votes.

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