BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – In a close vote at the top of the poll, the University of Charleston has been named the preseason favorite in MEC men’s golf in 2023-24.

Charleston received four first-place votes and totaled 75 points during voting to take the top spot. Davis & Elkins also received four first-place votes and tallied 71 points to take the No. 2 spot in the poll. Glenville State was third with two first-place votes and 70 points.

UC finished third at the MEC Championship a season ago and returns Rory Gorman, Erik Ulvang and Pau Sanchez to the course this season.

Davis & Elkins was the 2022 MEC Men’s Golf Champions and represented the league at the 2023 Men’s Golf National Championships at Avalon Lakes. D&E won the Atlantic Regional to punch its ticket to the national championship last May. The Senators are under first-year head coach Patrick Smith, but returns Lewis Beeden, Matin Eisa and Evan Lewis to the course this season.

Glenville State returns Juan Monckeberg and Shaydon Johnson this year, after both players finished in the Top 10 at last year’s MEC Men’s Golf Championship.

Fairmont State (52) was fourth in preseason voting, followed by West Liberty (50) at No. 5. West Virginia Wesleyan (43), Concord (36), Notre Dame (26), Wheeling (17) and West Virginia State (10) rounded out the preseason ranking.

The MEC men’s golf season begins on Friday, Sept. 1 with several teams in action during the opening week of the season. The 2023 MEC Men’s Golf Championship is set for Oct. 2-4 at Avalon Lakes in Warren, Ohio.