“Very awkward.”
“It’s a little funky.”
These are just a few of the thoughts a Division I women’s college golf coach said: last week news The number of teams advancing to the NCAA DI Women’s Golf Championship has increased by three to 27 after the NCAA’s DI Board of Supervisors approved a proposal put together by the DI Women’s Golf Committee.
According to the Commission, the change is intended to “provide equitable championship access rates for both men’s and women’s golf in Division 1.”
In terms of percentages, technically, men and women have achieved that because they each advance 10% of the total number of sponsored DI programs to the nationals (men have 30 teams to the NCAA Championship). send). And from this May championship, he’ll also have 18 student-athletes (5 starters and 1 sub from an additional 3 teams) an opportunity he didn’t have before. can do.
But recent decisions, though well-intentioned, have also created some new headaches.
Oregon State Head Coach Derek Radley said, “We are grateful that 27 teams have been recognized by the NCAA, and we are thrilled that more student-athletes will have the opportunity to experience a national championship.” But I think we are all aware of the potential controversy…”
Of course, Radley says it will be a difficult task for the committee, which must decide how to allocate odd-numbered finalists to each of the six regional competitions. The top four teams from each site in the six regions advanced to the 24-team NCAA Championship for the first time since the number of NCAA increased by two regions to six. This season, three regions will be given her four finals slots, and the remaining regions will be given an extra slot that will provide tickets to five Greyhawks.
The committee said it would use “field strength metrics” to make these decisions.
Oklahoma State University head coach Greg Robertson said, “As women’s golf has become more competitive, there’s nothing wrong with creating more opportunities. It’s definitely a step in the right direction. No,” he said. “But having 3 sites with 4 forwards and 3 sites with 5 forwards is going to be very messy. I don’t know the answer to keep it fair to everyone. , I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion about it at next week’s convention.”
The US Golf Coaches Association’s national convention will be held Monday through Wednesday in Las Vegas, and the committee will hold a public session Tuesday morning to discuss changes and potential resolutions, according to committee chairman Brad Hurlbut. We will get feedback on the measures. This includes what is now an uneven wave in the NCAA Championship.
Hurlbut, who is also Fairleigh Dickinson’s Athletic Director, said:
Speaking to GolfChannel.com Saturday morning, Hurlbut said the committee had originally requested an increase to 30 teams in late February, but that expansion request did not meet a “fair championship access rate,” and that this summer’s It said it was rejected by the COC. Determined by sports sponsors.
There are currently 298 DI men’s golf programs compared to 269 women’s.
“We wanted to be 30,” he said. “… but the percentages didn’t match, [the COC] I said no. “
After an initial refusal, the committee decided to call for 27, or 10% of all sponsored women’s programs. It received the stamp of approval.
The committee was aware of the challenges the decision to add only three teams would create, Hurlbut said. We thought we outweighed the challenges we might face in deciding whether to advance to the finals,” he added.
And, as Hurlbut added, that doesn’t mean the committee won’t continue to aim for 30.
“We’re going to use whatever means we can,” he said.
Perhaps one of the arguments on which the Commission can count is that Laid out by Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweekcalled for an increase to 30 teams at the NCAA Women’s Championship in May.
In the first-ever regional competition, the men’s and women’s teams each send 27% of the overall representation (81 men’s and 72 women’s teams) into the postseason. According to Nichols, regionals are like the first round of his NCAA Tournament in basketball, or even better compared to NCAA soccer, where the 48 men’s and 64 women’s teams each play 32 ahead of him in the first round. It’s kind of like the first round of the postseason in . Advance to the next round.
In golf, the regionals are essentially the first round of the NCAA tournament for the sport, and the NCAA Championship serves as the final two rounds, the first stroke play followed by eight-team match play for both men and women.
So while coaches are grateful for the added opportunity, every coach GolfChannel.com spoke to wanted the change to go as far as 30.
USC Head Coach Justin Silverstein said, “We’re happy that the field has expanded to meet the same participation rate as the NCAA Men’s Championship. The change to regionals is a little funky, but I think it’s a positive outcome. But I also believe we should continue to explore the option of playing for 30 teams.”
Robertson adds:
Until then, the postseason format remains a little funky.
