GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University men's golf team has surged to the No. 12 spot in the national rankings.  Coming off a strong third place finish in an elite field at last week's Las Vegas Desert Classic, the Mavericks were picked in a tie for 12^th in the first Bushnell/Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll of the spring season, released last Friday.

They received 219 points in the polling of 17 Golf Coaches Association of America member coaches to sit alongside Nova Southeastern.  The Mavs had been ranked 14^th at the end of the fall.

West Florida, which won the Las Vegas Desert Classic, took over the No. 1 spot after being ranked third at the end of the fall.  Lee and Grand Valley State both slipped one spot while Florida Southern, one of the eight nationally-ranked teams the Mavs finished higher than in Nevada, is ranked fourth.  Wingate rounds on the top five of the poll.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks also jumped seven spots to 12^th in the SCOREBOARD Powered by clippd computerized rankings.  They are the second highest NCAA Division II South Central ranked team behind only No. 9 St. Mary' in the rankings, which will have a major role in the selections for the NCAA Division II Super Regional Tournaments.

The Mavs lead all Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams in both sets of rankings.

The Mavs also have two individuals inside the top 50 of the SCOREBOARD rankings, with Leo Lavalle occupying the No. 40 spot while Dylan Everett is ranked 44^th.

The Mavericks will continue their season on Mar. 22-23 at Cal State San Bernardino's Coyote Classic in Beaumont, California.