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Aug. 28, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University, which will host the 2009 NCAA Division II National Men's Golf Championship, is ranked No.10 in the Golf World/Nike Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Vikings, who tied for eighth at nationals last spring, return four of their top five players. Leading the list is senior Jake Koppenberg (Everett), who was a second-team GCAA All-American and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He set a school record with a 71.3 scoring average and this summer reached the round of 32 at the U.S. Amatuer.

Western, which placed second at the 2008 West Regional and won the GNAC title, opens its season on Sept. 26-27, playing host to the 37th annual Viking Invitational at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Also competing in that tournament are UC San Diego, Chico State, British Columbia, Dixie State, Grand Canyon, Hawaii Hilo, Northwest Nazarene, Notre Dame de Namur, Seattle and Sonoma State.

On Sept. 29-30, the Vikings will host the Division II Preview Tournament where 13 of the 19 participating schools are ranked among the top 25 nationally. That tourney takes place at the Loomis Trail Golf and Country Club where the nationals will be held on May 19-22.

In that field, besides Western, will be Barry, UC San Diego, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Stanislaus, Central Oklahoma, Chico State, Colorado-Colorado Springs, Columbus State, Grand Canyon, Hawaii Hilo, Lynn, Notre Dame de Namur, Nova Southeastern, Saint Edwards, Sonoma State, USC-Aiken and Washburn.