CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---The Chattanooga men’s golf team is the top ranked team in the country according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Ratings Index.  The No. 1 ranking is a first in the Division I era for any Mocs program.

“This is very special for me,” said Head Coach Mark Guhne.  “We have talked about being the best team in the country and trying to build this program to that level, but for it to be actually recognized as such...it is very humbling.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but I could not be prouder of our players because it’s their hard work being rewarded.”

Chattanooga won its first two tournaments of the season with a tournament record 45-under par finish at the Aldila Scenic City Invitational and topping a stellar field at the prestigious Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic at the Farm in Rocky Face, Ga.

The Mocs lead the computer-generated Golfweek ranking followed by Arkansas, Kansas State, Baylor and Tennessee.  South Carolina is sixth as Illinois, Clemson, Michigan and Florida round out the top 10.  Chattanooga is 4-0 against top 10 teams, 32-0 overall.

It is certainly a team effort for the Mocs, but individually true freshman Stephan Jaeger is No. 41.  Seniors Ben Rickett and Jonathan Hodge are No. 66 and 67, respectively.

Chattanooga returns to action on Sunday at the Ping/Golfweek Preview at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.  The Preview is played at the site of the 2009 NCAA Championships in May.  It includes 15 of the top teams entering this season.

The Ping/Golfweek Preview is a 54-hole event played Sunday, Sept. 28, through Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Aside from Southern Conference football, Chattanooga is the first league team to be ranked number one in the nation since UNC Greensboro men's soccer held the top spot in every major poll for four weeks during the 2004 season.