[Hulk01]

I love the NCAA golf format but there is an element to it that disadvantages the underdogs a bit.

Golf courses may not play the same throughout the day as weather changes. There are parts of the country (such as on the plains and near the ocean) where it is common for the wind to pick up in the afternoon. Similarly there are parts of the country (like the desert Southwest) where mornings can be tolerable but temperatures as you approach noon and beyond can be very, very warm. In both of these situations, conditions in the morning are usually better for scoring. We have seen this at La Costa.

The NCAA tournament divides the field into 2 waves for each of the first 3 stroke play days - the top 15 teams and the lower 15 teams. For the first 2 days, this is determined by pre-tournament ranking. Each wave plays one round in the morning and one round in the afternoon. Fair enough. But for the 3rd round, all of the top 15 teams after 36 holes get to play in the morning while the lower 15 teams play in the afternoon. If the golf course is playing harder in the afternoon, this makes it that much tougher for bottom 15 teams to catch up on Day 3.

Still, this is a small critique. The format is the most grueling in all of college sports. The winning team (women's or men's) has survived a meat-grinder that puts their mental and physical skill to a very strong test. It does more than a strictly stroke play tournament would to ensure that every player's results can be counted. And it's great for TV.

The NCAA golf format also has benefited Stanford. The 2019 men's team had no business winning it all. But things clicked into place at the right time in the right way for 2 future PGA tour pros and 3 journeymen to bring home a championship.

No question re the 2019 men's team NCAA title.  Salinda and Wu each went 3-0, which meant only one of their other three teammates needed. to win to advance in the first two match play rounds and win in the end.  And neither star was on par with Rogers, Mc Neally, or Thornbjornsen.

[Hulk01]

I love the NCAA golf format but there is an element to it that disadvantages the underdogs a bit.

Golf courses may not play the same throughout the day as weather changes. There are parts of the country (such as on the plains and near the ocean) where it is common for the wind to pick up in the afternoon. Similarly there are parts of the country (like the desert Southwest) where mornings can be tolerable but temperatures as you approach noon and beyond can be very, very warm. In both of these situations, conditions in the morning are usually better for scoring. We have seen this at La Costa.

The NCAA tournament divides the field into 2 waves for each of the first 3 stroke play days - the top 15 teams and the lower 15 teams. For the first 2 days, this is determined by pre-tournament ranking. Each wave plays one round in the morning and one round in the afternoon. Fair enough. But for the 3rd round, all of the top 15 teams after 36 holes get to play in the morning while the lower 15 teams play in the afternoon. If the golf course is playing harder in the afternoon, this makes it that much tougher for bottom 15 teams to catch up on Day 3.

Still, this is a small critique. The format is the most grueling in all of college sports. The winning team (women's or men's) has survived a meat-grinder that puts their mental and physical skill to a very strong test. It does more than a strictly stroke play tournament would to ensure that every player's results can be counted. And it's great for TV.

The NCAA golf format also has benefited Stanford. The 2019 men's team had no business winning it all. But things clicked into place at the right time in the right way for 2 future PGA tour pros and 3 journeymen to bring home a championship.

No question re the 2019 men's team NCAA title.  Salinda and Wu each went 3-0, which meant only one of their other three teammates needed. to win to advance in the first two match play rounds and win in the end.  And neither star was on par with Rogers, Mc Neally, or Thornbjornsen.