This year’s high school realignment has changed the classification for some of the top teams in South Carolina, but no matter the classification , the top teams are still the top teams.

The South Carolina HIgh School Golf Coaches Association has offered a preview of what those who know the sport best think the top teams will be this year.

The size of a high school does not always determine the quality of a team as much as it might in football or other team sports. Having more potential golfers to choose from doesn’t hurt, but is not the ticket to a championship.

The pre-season poll this year reflects the split made in the big school 5A classification.

Last year the Hanna Yellow Jackets from Anderson were the 5A champions. This year the Yellow Jackets are in 5A Division II and will compete with some new teams like Greenville and Indian Land to repeat as champion.

Christ Church, the defending state Class A champion and the school with the most state golf championships, was moved up into the 3A classification.

Christ Church is a private school and will now be in competition with one of the more successful private charter schools, Oceanside from Mount Pleasant, to win their classification championship.

Individually, a couple of golfers return with a chance to win another state title.

Will Ruth from Dorman won the 5A title last year, Dawson Szabo from Blue Ridge won the 3A title and is back to compete for another win this year.

The unofficial start of the high school season is the Red Raider Invitational to be played on Monday, March 3 at the Greenville Country Club.

Here are the rankings from the South Carolina High School golf coaches.