NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— Two-time defending champion Davidson men's golf has been selected to win the 2023 Atlantic 10 Championship in the league's annual Championship Poll, which was released Thursday. Mason was picked to seventh in the 12-team poll.

Mason finished third at the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship, its best finish since joining the conference in 2013-14. The Patriots placed a trio of student-athletes in the championship top-10 and placed two on the All-Conference team for the first time in program history, capping a successful weekend for the Green & Gold.

The Patriots were led by grad student JP Miller with a team-best 72.25 stroke average this past fall season, followed by Samir Davidov (72.58). 
 
Davidov had the best individual finish for Mason in fall 2022, finishing runner-up at the Doc Gimmler Intercollegiate played at Bethpage State Park Red Course. Davidov finished with a 12-under par 198 (69-64-65), the second best three-round score in Mason history in a 54-hole tournament. The effort earned Davidov Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors.
 
Mason had two Top 5 team finishes in the four fall tournaments, led by a third-place finish in the Doc Gimmler Intercollegiate played at Bethpage State Park Red Course. The Patriots finished fifth at the River Run Collegiate held in North Carolina in September.
 
The Wildcats garnered six first-place votes in the poll, which was conducted among the league's head golf coaches. Davidson has won the last two championships and returns three of the five members of last year's championship team, including A-10 Rookie of the Year Will Davis (second place), All-Conference selection Alex Heffner (tied for third) and Ethan Hall (tied for 23rd). Brian Garrett, who was All-Conference in 2021 also returns. Davidson, led by longtime head coach Tim Straub, totaled 137 points in the poll.
 
VCU was picked second in the poll with 134 points. The Rams received five first-place votes and return Charlie Kennedy, who finished tied for 32^nd at last year's championship and are anchored by newcomers Mattias Varjun and Ugo Malcor. Andy Walker, the 2022 A-10 Coach of the Year, is in his second year leading the Rams. Richmond finished third in the poll with 106 points and returns all five golfers from last year's fourth-place championship finish, including 2021 A-10 Golfer of the Year Lou Baker.
 
George Washington finished fourth in the poll with 105 points and one first place vote, followed by Rhode Island in fifth with 96 points. Dayton was sixth with 86 points, and George Mason was seventh with 79 points. League newcomer Loyola Chicago was eighth with 57 points, followed by La Salle (30) and St. Bonaventure (36).
Fordham (32) and Saint Joseph's (30 points) rounded out the poll.
 
2023 Atlantic 10 Golf Poll
 
Team – Points (first place votes)

1. Davidson – 137 (6)
2. VCU- 134 (5)       
3. Richmond -106  
4. George Washington -105 (1)        
5. Rhode Island - 96              
6. Dayton - 86         
7. George Mason - 79          
8. Loyola Chicago - 57          
9. La Salle - 38         
10. St. Bonaventure - 36       
11. Fordham - 32     
12. Saint Joseph's - 30

The 2023 Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Championship begins Friday, April 28 at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla. The 12 A-10 golf teams will play 18 holes per day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Practice rounds are slated for Thursday.