The Division III Men’s Golf Committee is preparing for a new championships format next year that will accommodate 180 golfers who will occupy two courses.

Bracket expansion and automatic qualification will provide for 35 teams and five individuals in the national tournament, a field that will be paired equally over two courses May 15-18, 2007. Division III also will implement a cut for the first time, reducing the field to 23 teams and five individuals after two rounds.

Committee members at their July 18-20 meeting in Indianapolis worked on some of the logistics that come with a two-course set-up, such as how to settle ties. The committee decided if two or more teams are tied for the final spots after the second round and not all of the teams are playing the same course, the playoff will be at the course at which rounds three and four will be held.

The committee also recommended a slight change in its selection procedures for individuals. Previously, the committee has used a process that guarantees representation from each region in the regional pairing, but next year the group will select the top individuals, regardless of region.

In addition, the committee discussed a request from the Division III Championships Committee to consider limiting the nontraditional segment to five weeks in the fall, with 16 days of athletically related activity and one date of competition. But the golf committee supports the current model of 19 weeks for the entire season, giving each institution the flexibility to determine how those weeks will be used in the fall and spring.

The committee also voted to disallow the use of range finders during championships competition other than practice rounds, and to preclude coaches from using motorized carts during competition. The committee also voted to implement the one-ball rule effective with the 2007 championships.

The group also elected Brad Bankston, commissioner of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, as chair of the committee, succeeding Dan Ruyle of Southwestern University (Texas) when Ruyle’s term as chair expires September 1.