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The NCAA News -- May 10, 1999

A hole new game?

Golf committee irons out format options for future championships

BY HEATHER YOST
STAFF WRITER

The Division I men's golf committee is planning to ask its constituents to determine when a long shot is just too long.

At its annual meeting in June, the committee will be examining alternative championship formats that may include everything from when to cut the field to separating the individual championship from the team championship.

"There are a lot of ideas and opinions out there," said Todd Turner, athletics director at Vanderbilt University and chair of the committee. "Our goal is to create the best opportunity to crown the best team champion. We have to decide what that method is and ask ourselves if we are cutting teams that could win the championship."

Under the current system, the field of 30 teams is cut in half after 36 holes. The top 15 teams vie for the championship in the final two rounds. Those golfers, along with the nine low individual golfers who are not on advancing teams, compete for the individual title.

This format, which will be used in the 1999 championship, is being scrutinized. Some within the golf community suggest that, in some situations, teams that are not in the top 15 after two rounds still may be viable competitors for the title. Others contend that separating the individual competition from the team championship would even the field for competitors who are in the hunt for both honors.

Team or individual sport?

One proposal for a structural change -- one that is being surveyed among Division I golf coaches -- would give teams an additional round to shoot for the top 15 and would present a twist to the championship that could gain exposure for the sport and help highlight the individual low scorer.

Under the proposed system, all championships competitors would play 54 holes. The individual championship would be concluded and the field cut in half after the third round, just prior to the final day of competition.

"There is no doubt that college golf is a team sport," said golf committee member Mike Griffin, golf coach at Auburn University. "The team title has superseded the individual champion, but this is an interesting way to look at things. If you have a golfer at mid-fairway with choices to make, what you do while trying to win the team championship and what you do trying to be the individual champion isn't necessarily the same thing."

The medalist would be determined on Friday, the third day of the four-day competition, which may help draw attention to the individual title that may otherwise be lost when a team champion is crowned simultaneously on the last day of play.

"If you have the individual champion declared after 54 holes, you don't have to worry about that birdie to help your team in the third round," said Bob Livingstone, a golf committee member and head men's golf coach at Long Beach State University. "You still have the next round to make up strokes that may be necessary to win for the team. You don't have that option or strategy with the concurrent system."

The team competition would become the focus of the event on the final day, as has been the tradition of the Division I championship.

"You essentially can offer two good days of television coverage," Livingstone said. "You can focus on the individuals on the first day with casual mention of how it is affecting the team standings. Then you go into the second day focusing on the teams -- almost two championships for the price of one."

The team atmosphere would be enhanced by the change in championship structure in another way as well. Under the United States Golf Association Rules of Golf, players competing for an individual title cannot ask for or receive advice from other players, including teammates, also vying for the title. In the proposed structure, once the individual title hunt is over, teammates could offer each other advice for the betterment of team play and possible improvement of scores overall.

Where to make the cut

In 1995, the Auburn squad was the No. 16 team in the championship after 36 holes and was eliminated from the team competition. Griffin still wonders if senior Chip Spratlin, who was the medalist, and his squad could have come from behind to win the championship.

"I thought we instituted the regional competition process to make early cuts for the championship," Griffin said. "I think the national championship should be settled in four rounds and be contested by all the qualifying teams."

Before the 1992 championship, all the qualifiers to the national championship played four rounds for the title.

Advocates of the current system say the reduced field keeps costs down and also helps facilitate championships administration.

"The tournament is much more manageable with only 15 teams than it is with 30," Turner said. "You can't guarantee that teams playing in the morning will have the same light, climate or conditions as a team that tees off at 2 p.m. If you have to deal with the weather, you can work around a two-hour delay with 15 teams, which isn't possible with the entire field."

Proponents of cutting the field in half after 54 holes -- or even not at all -- would like to see added exposure for the sport of golf and for developing programs.

"I have heard people say that teams that are still playing after two rounds that are in 28th place or something are just going through the motions," Griffin said. "I don't agree with that. If you are a young coach with a growing program with the chance to move up, your players aren't going to be going through the motions. It is the best possible exposure for the program."

Surveys were sent to coaches for feedback to serve as guidance for the committee in June.

"A lot goes into a successful championship," Turner said. "We've only made minor changes to fine-tune the championship since I have been on the committee, but we are always looking for ways to promote the championship and the game of golf."