By COURTLIN HAYGARTH | HSU Sports Network

NORMAN, Okla. — Through two tournaments, the Henderson State men’s golf program went from receiving votes in the Golf Coaches Association of America Preseason Poll to being ranked No. 12 in the latest GCAA set of rankings.

The Reddies are the highest ranked GAC team in the latest Division II poll, garnering 192 total points. Previously-dubbed No. 13 Arkansas Tech now comes in at No. 22 with 97 points. The top spot is occupied Barry, followed by Lee (2), West Florida (3), North Georgia (4) and Georgia Southwestern (5) to make up the Top-5.

Henderson began its climb up the rankings with a season-opening tournament win at the NSU Golf Classic with a 15-under 837 54-hole score, defeating second-place Washburn by 19 strokes. HSU followed that up by tying then-No. 16 Missouri-St. Louis for first at the MSSU Fall Invitational, including defeating then-No. 3 Oklahoma Christian by two strokes.

Junior Nathan Cossement earned back-to-back GAC Golfer of the Week honors with his play in the first two tournaments of the season, carding a 6-under 207 followed by an even-par 216 for third and seventh, respectively. Of the six rounds Cossement has played, four of them have been under par, including a 7-under 65 on the final round at the MSSU Invite.

No. 12 Henderson St. will play its first tournament in the Natural State this week when it heads to all-too familiar Hot Springs Country Club to host the annual Battle for the Belt Oct. 3-4. Last year, then-No. 13 HSU won the event by six strokes over the former No. 1 Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys.