The NCAA men’s golf championship will use a different format to determine the team and individual champions beginning in the 2009 competition at Inverness Club in Toledo.

The NCAA committee recently decided that an individual champion will be declared after 54 holes and a team cut will be made to eight squads. From there, competition advances to match play between those top-scoring teams.

“You don’t play 12 football games on the Division I level and then to go the Sugar Bowl and play Arena ball,” said University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golf coach Mark Guhne whose team finished the season ranked No. 12 by GolfWeek. “Up until the top eight, everything is the same. The ones playing match play are going to be pretty good teams.”

The NCAA committee will re-evaluate the system next summer after Inverness and in advance of the 2010 championship to be held at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.

The NCAA does not have a television deal in place, but coaches can agree that they would like one. They just can’t come to a standard conclusion about the new format.

“There have been so many changes in the last eight to 12 years, and to change in hope of getting on TV seems like we’re changing for the sake of changing,” said Charlotte coach Jamie Green, whose team tied for eighth at the past championship. “It doesn’t make sense to play match play for the national championship when you haven’t been doing it all year long.”

University of Georgia coach Chris Haack, who has won two titles with the Bulldogs, doesn’t mind the switch. He figures that non-golf fans may appreciate the head-to-head aspect.

“I’m kind of excited about the new format, because it’s something different,” said Haack, whose Bulldogs tied with Charlotte. “People in all other sports understand playing another team and winning and losing.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how it works.”

Comments