Salukis ranked as MVC Preseason Number One in Coaching Poll

02/06/2026 | 12:19:00 | Men's Golf

Dante Green

CARBONDALE,IL-- Southern Illinois has been tabbed as this year's preseason favorite in men's golf in a vote conducted by league head coaches. The Salukis earned 76 points and five first-place votes to edge Illinois State, who received 75 points and three first-place tallies. Murray State (60), Drake (50), and Belmont (49) round out the top five in the poll. The Salukis last won the championship in 2024. They also won in 2022, 2019 and 2016.

The 2026 MVC Men's Championship will be played at Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Ill on April 26-28). Illinois State is the host institution for this year's event. Last year, Illinois State earned a three-stroke victory over second-place Murray State in a 54-hole championship that went down to the wire. Murray State's Trey Wall took medalist honors at Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship at the par-72, 7,267-yard Des Moines Golf & Country Club (North Course) in West Des Moines, Iowa, hosted by Drake University.