Sept. 5, 2002

The UNLV men's golf team has been ranked 16th in the Golf World preseason coaches poll, the magazine announced Thursday.

The Rebels, who return four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad that advanced to the national final, racked up 143 points in the poll of 16 Division I head coaches.

Clemson topped the poll, securing nine first-place votes and 389 points. Defending national champ Minnesota checked in second, followed by Florida, Arizona and Georgia Tech.

Along with its men's and women's coaches polls, the magazine ranked the top 10 individual players in the country and named 50 top players to watch, both male and female,. Sophomore Ryan Moore was ranked sixth, one spot behind 2002 national medalist Troy Matteson of Georgia Tech.

On the women's side, Rebel Hwanhee Lee was one of just five sophomores recognized by the magazine's "Best of the Rest" players.

Both UNLV squads open their 2002-03 seasons in Albuquerque, N.M. The men's team begins on Sept. 12 at the Tucker Intercollegiate while the Lady Rebels kick things off on Sept. 26 at the Dick McGuire Invitational.