What is college golf in the 2023-24 season without a little controversy?
In the fall, it was the failures of Spikemark and confusion about the new rankings system and how it worked. And in the first full week of the spring season, there’s even more debate among coaches, fans and more about one of the biggest women’s tournaments of the season switching its format only days before the event from stroke play to match play.
More teams across the country began their spring seasons this past week, as the chase for conference titles and NCAA regional berths picks up full stream heading toward the postseason.
Here’s what you need to know from the past week in college golf.
More college golf: Practice facilities around the country
Controversy in California
The Therese Hession Regional Challenge is one of the premier women’s college golf events on the calendar and an excellent preview of what’s to come in the spring season for many of the top teams across the country.
The field was loaded, including defending national champions and No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 USC, No. 6 South Carolina, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Texas and No. 10 Florida. All in all, there were 13 teams ranked in the top 26 in the 16-team field.
However, just a couple days before the event, it was switched from a 54-hole stroke-play tournament to a match-play bracket. The reason behind the change was the major storms hitting the Los Angeles area last weekend, meaning the event at Palos Verdes Golf Club may not have been completed if played like originally scheduled. In fact, even after the change they weren’t able to get every round of match play in.
South Carolina was awarded the team title, the 25th victory for the Gamecocks under coach Kalen Anderson. Junior Hannah Darling earned a sponsor exemption into the LPGA’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship in March at Palos Verdes Golf Club. It will be her professional debut.
Another possible reason for the change from stroke play to match play? Under Mark Broadie’s new ranking system for college golf, match play has minimal impact, good or bad. That means in events like bad weather, the chance of negatively impacting a team’s rating drops significantly.
Ultimately, losing all of your matches could have less of an effect than finishing near the bottom of 16 teams in a stroke-play competition.
When the change was made, it sparked conversation among numerous folks in the college golf community. Georgia women’s coach Josh Brewer was one of those who spoke out and voiced frustrations.
So many questions about happens today 1. Can anyone let me know if special approval must be granted to change from stroke play to play match format? 2. Was our new ranking system contacted to explore pros and cons of decision?
— Josh Brewer (@CoachJoshBrewer) February 4, 2024
On the surface it sure appears that rankings had to be a part of the decision since match play has less variance. Oh to a be a fly on the wall of that decision.
— Josh Brewer (@CoachJoshBrewer) February 4, 2024
Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages about the format change questions. I wish you would make your comments public; however, I understand why the silence. I will gladly be the voice for us who care about the integrity of our sport.
— Josh Brewer (@CoachJoshBrewer) February 4, 2024
In later tweets, Brewer even mentioned his speaking up could cost his team a few invites to tournaments, but as mentioned above, he didn’t want to stay silent.
Ohio State is the host team for the Therese Hession, and coach Lisa Strom responded Wednesday with a statement explaining the decision to change from stroke play to match play.
“Our decision was driven by the desire to ensure all 16 teams and 8 individuals who traveled from across the country were given the opportunity to play as much golf as possible,” the statement reads.
— Lisa Strom (@lisastromgolf) February 7, 2024
In the new Broadie points-based system, there’s a metric called “Event rank impact,” which measures how a teams rank would change if that event was removed from their record. Up two spots means the event was good and moved the team up two spots, and so on.
For the Therese Hession, South Carolina had a +2 rank impact, which was similar to Texas, Florida, UCLA and Arizona State. The biggest movement up was Georgetown at +9, with the Hoyas being the lowest-ranked team in the field. The biggest drop was Mississippi State at -6.
Broadie was also a part of discussion on social media this week.
Actual ranking movement depends on the results of all teams in a week. A team could play well and not move up if the teams ahead also played well.
Event rank impact holds everything constant except for removing the one event result from the one team in question.
— Mark Broadie (@MarkBroadie) February 7, 2024
Ultimately, Strom and the coaches at the Therese Hession made the change to try and get as much golf in as they could, including starting a day earlier (Saturday) and playing two rounds that day. Even with an early start on Sunday for the third round, the rain eventually came and the tournament was called with South Carolina and Texas being 3-0 in match play.
Weather affects golf tournaments nearly day somewhere across the country, but this sudden change from stroke play to match play has many wondering whether the Therese Hession will be the first tournament of many to do so in the future.
Arkansas women rally in Puerto Rico
The Arkansas women’s golf team entered the final round of the Purdue Puerto Rico Classic six shots off the lead, but after the round of the week, went home with the trophy.
The Razorbacks shot 12-under 276, the best round since 2021 for Arkansas, to come from behind and win, besting conference foes LSU by one shot and Auburn by two. Arkansas finished at 10 under for the tournament, earning its second victory of the season.
The lowest 54-hole score for the Razorbacks was Ela Anacona, playing as an individual. She finished 10th at 3 under. Reagan Zibilski and Kendall Todd finished T-11 at 2 under, and standout freshman Maria Jose Marin shot 5 under in the final round and finished 1 under overall and T-16.
In the individual competition, it was Furman’s Anna Morgan shooting 5 under in the final round to finish at 10 under overall and win by two. LSU graduate student and four-time All-American Ingrid Lindblad finished two shots behind at 8 under, and 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur winner Megan Schofill tied for third at 7 under with Arizona State’s Carla Bernat and Texas A&M’s Bianca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio.
The win was the seventh for Morgan in her career. Meanwhile, for Lindblad, in four starts this season, she has finished first, T-5, first and second, losing to only five players.
North Carolina women capture UCF Challenge
North Carolina captured its third victory of the season, beating 17 other teams to win the UCF Challenge at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando.
The Tar Heels shot 18 under for the tournament, beating Kansas by five strokes. No. 13 UCF finished fourth at 8 under, tied for fourth.
UNC’s 18-under 846 is the second-best 54-hole total in women’s golf program history for the fewest strokes and most strokes below par.
Sophomore Megan Streicher set the all-time 18-hole school record with an 8-under 64 in the opening round and finished 7-under 209, six strokes behind medalist Lauren Zaretsky of Texas Tech. Fifth-year Kayla Smith finished T-8 at 5 under.
The win for Zaretsky was the first of her career.
Clemson men win Battle at Briar's Creek
Clemson captured the Battle at Briar’s Creek on Tuesday, a 36-hole event in Johns Island, South Carolina.
Clemson finished with a 36-hole score of 575 while Chattanooga finished at 577. Augusta was third at 579 and Indiana was fourth at 581.
The tournament was shortened to 36 holes because of poor weather Monday. The original plan was to play 36 holes the first day and 18 the second.
College golf facilities: Florida Gators and Chris M. Kane Golf Practice Facility
Mark Bostick Golf Course has anchored the northwest corner of the University of Florida’s Gainesville campus for more than 80 years. Donald Ross originally designed the course, but it has evolved over the years to take on its own distinct personality.
Florida’s Chris M. Kane Golf Practice Complex opened in the spring of 2012. The 56-by-32 foot facility features fitness and club fitting/repair rooms, a putting lab and two separate covered hitting bays equipped with the latest short-swing analysis equipment.
For more on the complex, click here.
