DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont men's golf team is currently the No. 1 team in the nation as GolfStat released its fall 2020 rankings on Tuesday afternoon.
 
This marks the first Piedmont team to be ranked No. 1 in the school's NCAA era.
 
The Lions enjoyed its most successful season in school history during the fall, competing in four tournaments, with three of the four coming against mostly Division I and Division II schools.
 
In its only tournament of the season against all Division III opponents, Piedmont rolled to a dominant 21-shot team title at the Transylvania Invitational on Sept. 13. On the individual side, PC's MATTHEW LEEMANN and BEN BALEN were individual co-medalists.
 
Just over two weeks later, the Lions posted a solid showing, finishing fourth out of six against only Division I opponents. PC bested Mercer by seven shots and Central Arkansas by 10 as Balen and Fred Roberts finished tied for 6th out of 38 golfers in the event.
 
After a ninth place finish out of 11 teams at the Camden Collegiate on Oct. 6, the Lions saved their best for last at the UNG Invitational with arguably the best showing in program history.
 
Competing against 15 Division II programs, Piedmont came out on top of all but one, finishing tied for 2nd in the 54-hole tournament.
 
Piedmont set five school record during the event, including low 36-hole total (565), low 54-hole total (844) and low round to par (-9 final round).
 
On the individual side, MATTHEW LEEMANN took home his fourth career individual title, besting a loaded field that included multiple Division II All-Americans.
 
Leemann finished the event at a school-best 12-under par, winning by a single shot thanks to a pair of eagles during his final round.
 
The No. 1 ranking marks the culmination of a quick ascension for the program. Piedmont was ranked No. 22 in the GolfStat rankings following its lone event of the spring season.
 
Piedmont Director of Golf/Head Coach JP Kircher is in his fifth season at the helm of the program.