The Division III Men's and Women's Golf Committees discussed sports-sponsorship issues and the effects of automatic qualification upon the golf championships beginning in 2007.

Both committees conducted their annual meetings in Indianapolis recently -- the men's committee June 28-30 and the women's committee July 12-15.

The women's committee expressed concern that member institutions may have the opportunity to participate in the championships without meeting minimum sponsorship requirements. NCAA Bylaw 20.11.3.3 calls for institutions to have a minimum squad size of five student-athletes who participate in a minimum of seven contests to meet women's golf sponsorship requirements. To be considered eligible for championships competition, the golf committee requires participation in a minimum of 12 18-hole contests, at least three of which must be contested in the spring season. Committee members are concerned, however, that the kinds of tournaments some institutions are participating in may allow them to structure their schedules to meet selection requirements without in fact meeting minimum sponsorship requirements.

The committee is recommending to the Division III Championships Committee that Bylaw 20.11.3.3 be considered as a part of the championships criteria. In preparing for the automatic qualifications for 2006, the committee will evaluate if member institutions are meeting minimum participant requirements for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

In other action, the women's committee reviewed a change in the scoring format it adopted for championship-selection purposes and noted that the scoring change for 2003-04 was not consistent among all three divisions. That caused a discrepancy in the outcome of the Golfstat rankings used to assist the committee in determining the championships field. The Division III women's committee agreed to revert to the original format, which is consistent with that used in Division I and II women's golf.

The women's committee also recommended a new chair -- Wellesley College Atheltics Director Louise O'Neal, who will replace University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) Athletics Director Steve Fritz when his term in that role expires in September.

And in a realignment matter, the women's committee recommended that Trinity University (Texas) be moved from region 2 to region 5, effective for the 2005-06 season.

Men's committee

The men's golf committee recommended a finals site for 2006 to the Division III Championships Committee, which will consider the recommendation at its September meeting.

The group also adjusted tee times for the finals. Because teams are selected and paired in the first two rounds of the finals from Golfstat rankings, some regions already in close geographical proximity to each other end up frequently being paired together again during those two rounds. By adjusting tee times, the committee is hoping to diversify regional pairings for the first two rounds. After 36 holes, tee times are set according to score.

The committee also discussed the implementation of automatic qualification beginning in 2007 and the effect it will have on championship selection.

In addition, the group recommended Dan Ruyle, men's golf coach at Southwestern University (Texas), as its new chair. Ruyle will replace Don Harnum, men's golf coach at Susquehanna University, when Harnum's term on the committee ends in September.