With the addition of 15 teams, the 2001 Division I Women's Golf Championships could have a two-fold happy ending. One obvious positive is added participation opportunities for conferences (and teams) that might not otherwise qualify for the tournament. The other is that if everything goes according to the Division I Women's Golf Committee's plan, this format will be a fairer means of awarding the championship.

"I think this is an exciting time for women's golf," said Lawrence Cunningham, associate athletics director at the University of Notre Dame and chair of the committee.

"In the past, we had two regionals with 15 teams in each region," said Sharon Cessna, NCAA assistant director of championships. "Now, there will be another regional with 21 teams in each, which allowed the committee to provide automatic qualification to eligible conferences."

The new format will have the top three teams in each region -- West, Central and East -- remain in their natural region. After those teams, regions will be assigned on a rotating basis. Individual qualifiers also will stay in region (two in each region).

Previously, teams would remain in their region, regardless of the region's strength. In the new system, the committee will spread teams across three regions.

Competitive equity

While a third region was added, the so-called power conferences aren't necessarily getting more spots. Automatic qualifiers will fill out much of the increased field. There are 18 conferences eligible for an automatic bid.

"Obviously, the committee wanted to give more opportunities to conferences that might not otherwise have access as a team," Cunningham said. "This increased exposure, we hope, will encourage more conferences and institutions to add women's golf as a full varsity program."

Competitive equity also comes into play with the new setup. In the past, teams often were able to schedule a tournament on the course that would hold the regional competition; now, no team is assured of a regional placement except the host institution.

Having the teams spread across three regions helps to ensure that a strong region will not be penalized in the national tournament.

"In some years, one region may have a large number of outstanding teams," said Dianne Dailey, head coach at Wake Forest University and a former committee member. "By distributing the teams evenly across three regions, it increases the likelihood that the top 24 teams will be at the final."

Financial concerns

At the beginning of this process, the committee asked for feedback, comments and proposals for the tournament. The committee wanted to be sure everyone involved had a say in how the tournament was going to change.

Additional monies to fund team travel, lodging and other expenses did not accompany the expansion. So, each institution will incur some expenses if its team qualifies for the tournament.

The financial difference under the new format may not be enormous. With three regional sites, many teams will be traveling a fairly long distance regardless of the regional assignment they receive.

For example, the University of Arizona will fly to the regional competition, if the school qualifies, regardless of where they are placed. The regionals will be held at Purdue University (Central); the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (East); and Oregon State University (West).

The committee met with the women's golf coaches at their annual meeting in June 2000 and made some subtle changes to the proposed format. When it was presented again in January, the coaches were extremely accepting.

The coaching ranks were well represented in discussions. Half of the committee's members are coaches, and input received during the coaches convention was taken into consideration.

"Their voice was heard loud and clear," Cunningham said. "They're definitely plugged in with that perspective and it's very helpful to have that perspective."

"The suggestions the coaches made were taken very seriously by the committee and some of the changes that were made were a direct result of those conversations," Cessna said.

The sport's dramatic growth has helped expansion become a reality. In the 1982-83 season, there were 80 Division I women's golf teams. This year, 200 institutions sponsor women's golf at the Division I level.

Having automatic qualifiers puts women's golf in line with most other NCAA championships that award automatic bids to championships for eligible conferences.

"Coaches have been supportive of the change because it gives teams an opportunity they might not have otherwise had," Daily said. "I think the consensus is that this will be good for women's collegiate golf."

"The overall objective, no matter what, is to crown the best golf team as NCAA champion," Cunningham said. "I think the committee is very happy that expanding the tournament to include more teams helps that process."