The Division III Men’s Golf Committee is considering a reduced field for the final two days of the championship tournament.

The changed is designed to ease administrative burdens for the host facility without compromising the championship experience for student-athletes.

Committee members at their recent annual meeting agreed to recommend to the Division III Championships Committee that the number of participants in the final two rounds be reduced from 23 teams and five individuals to 15 teams and six individuals starting with the 2011 championships. The committee believes the new total would give tournament officials more flexibility to deal with weather-related issues and at the same time not take away from student-athletes’ competitive experience.

Texas-Dallas Athletics Director Chris Gage, who chairs the Division III Men’s Golf Committee, said the reduced field may even enhance that experience.

“It intensifies that championship feel for the 15 teams that really do have a legitimate chance at competing for the team title,” Gage said. “And even for those teams that do not make the cut, you’re still there for four rounds (two practice rounds and two competitive rounds), so student-athletes still have a quality four-day championship experience on tremendous venues.”

Committee members discussed the idea during roundtable sessions with coaches at this year’s championships. Gage said most coaches appeared receptive. He also pointed out that the “stigma” associated with missing the cut isn’t as serious as some people think.

“If you miss the cut, it gives you something to shoot for that next year,” Gage said. “Also, student-athletes don’t feel so bad about missing the cut because they know it is a tremendous field.”

Change in ratio

While the committee is considering a reduced final field, members also are exploring the possibility of an expanded starting bracket.

Gage said the committee is asking the Division III Championships Committee to increase the championships ratio from 1:7.5 to 1:7. The change, he said, would allow deserving teams from Pool C more access to the field.

“Under the current ratio, there are some potential Pool C teams that would be very competitive that aren’t getting into the field,” he said. “Increasing the Pool C teams just by a few would make a big difference. Even that slight increase in the ratio would give access to programs that would enhance the championship.”

Gage said the golf committee is working to determine what kind of a budget impact that change would have on the championships. He also said the proposal would not affect the current automatic-qualification process because those teams that earn their conference’s AQ would still be selected to participate in the championships.

In other action, the committee is recommending an increase in per diem for teams that make the cut to 6.5 days as opposed to 5.5. In turn, the committee is suggesting 4.5 days for those teams that do not make the cut. Gage said the proposal helps teams that make the cut not have to spend institutional dollars to remain on site. 

The committee also recommended an increase in the travel party from five participants and one coach to five participants and two coaches. The proposal primarily addresses a transportation concern, Gage said.

“Golf presents unique transportation challenges because of the amount of room that clubs take up in the vehicle,” he said. “We are seeing more teams run into challenges either procuring 15-passenger vans or they aren’t allowed to use them at all – so teams are having to take two SUVs. The current travel-party limit sometimes puts a student-athlete behind the wheel of that second vehicle. We want to avoid that for a number of reasons.”

Given that proposal, Gage noted that the committee is also considering a change in the advice rule that would allow two coaches to be on the course. Currently, only one coach is permitted to accompany the players.

The committee also began preliminary discussions about the individual portion of the golf championships. The Division III Championships Committee has asked the golf and tennis committees to weight the importance of determining individual champions as opposed to expanding the number of teams in the tournament field. The men’s golf committee will query coaches during the year to determine the importance of continuing to identify an individual champion.