DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke men's golf team was tabbed at No. 11 in first Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches' Poll of the spring as announced by the organization Thursday. The Blue Devils have tallied top-five finishes in five of the six events this year, including victories at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate and the Rod Myers Invitational.

The Blue Devils are led by seniors Brinson Paolini and Julian Suri. Paolini, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., owns a 71.4 stroke average this season, after tying for third place at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational where he carded rounds of 71 and 69 to finish at four-under par. Paolini has notched three top-five finishes in the six tournaments he has played.

Suri, a 2012 All-American from St. Augustine, Fla., ranks second on the team with a 72.0 stroke average, including a win at the Rod Myers Invitational Oct. 13-14. Suri has recorded six under-par rounds this season, including a team-best 67 at the United States Collegiate Championship Oct. 19-21.

California topped the Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches' Poll, while Alabama, UCLA, Washington and Texas round out the top five respectively. The ACC is represented by five schools in the poll including No. 7 Georgia Tech, No. 17 Florida State, No. 21 Clemson and No. 25 Wake Forest. The SEC leads the way with seven teams in the top 25, followed by the ACC and the PAC 12 with five each.

The No. 11 Blue Devils are slated to play in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters March 8-10 at the Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev.

Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches' Poll
March 4, 2013 Issue
Division I

Also receiving votes: UNLV, 27; Missouri, 26; North Florida, 22; Saint Mary's (Calif.), 22; Vanderbilt, 18; Louisiana Tech, 16; Texas A&M, 16; Liberty, 11; Georgia Southern, 4; Coastal Carolina, 3; South Carolina, 3; Ball State, 1; Northwestern, 1; Oregon, 1; Texas Tech, 1.