The Division II Men's Golf Committee has recommended eliminating at-large bids to the championships.

The proposal, endorsed during the committee's annual meeting July 14-17 in San Francisco, would increase the bracket by two individuals. The effective date for the proposed change, which must be approved by the Division II Championships Committee, would be the 2005 tournament.

Currently, the championships field is composed of 18 teams and 12 individuals taken from 10 regions. Finalists advance from five super regionals, where the top team and top individual not on an advancing team from each region qualify. In the current format, the committee also awards bids to eight at-large teams and two at-large individuals to fill the field. The committee hopes that by eliminating at-large bids, teams will have to earn their way into the championship.

Under the proposed format, the same two regions would still play at the same super regional, but now the super regional would be a single event with both regions competing together. The top individual and top two teams (regardless of region) and the top individual not on an advancing team from each region would advance to the finals, creating 10 teams and five individuals. The other 10 teams needed to round out the field would be predetermined by a formula based on the region's prior three-year average of the top 10 finishes at the national championships.

If the Division II Championships Committee passes the proposal in September, the regions will be renamed. The bracket would increase from 103 to 105 participants, and expenses would decrease because fewer teams would be traveling.

In other championship business, the committee has recommended modifying the rule requiring 50 percent of competition to be against Division II teams for championships eligibility. The modification would allow teams to meet the 50 percent rule or to play a minimum of 60 Division II opponents, of which 40 are in-region Division II opponents.

The committee also altered tee times for the first and second rounds. The current pairings will be flipped so the last participants teeing off on the first day will be the first off on the second day. This change will be reflected in the championships handbook, available online this fall.

Other highlights

Division II Men's Golf Committee
July 14-17/San Francisco

Voted that at the regionals and for pairing purposes only, the five remaining individuals not on a team will be placed as the ninth "team" for all rounds. They will not be scored as a team.

The committee has asked all institutions to properly submit their tournament results to Golfstat within 14 days after the conclusion of the tournament or they may be assessed a $100 fine.

Commended LeMoyne College, Georgia College and State University, University of North Alabama, Southwest Baptist University, Colorado Christian University and the University of Southern Colorado for their efforts in hosting regionals, and California State University, Chico, for hosting the finals.

Recommended sites for the 2004 super regionals and the 2005 championships. Bids are being accepted for the 2005 super regionals and 2006 finals. Contact Donnie Wagner at the national office for more information or to submit a bid.

Recommended Keith Baker of Grand Canyon University as chair of the committee.

Forwarded a proposal to increase the head rules official's stipend from $2,000 to $2,500.

Forwarded a recommendation to increase the number of rules officials at the finals from eight to 12.

Moved the coaches meeting to Monday evening after the Golf Coaches Association of America banquet.

Forwarded a proposal to pay regional transportation expenses for institutions that qualify.