[GK3]

Following up on our frequent criticisms of the NCAA's use of five-player, 18 hole match play to determine the national championship:

The PGA Tour uses 72 hole stroke play to determine a tournament's champion, and the NCAA uses 12 rounds (best four scores of five players for each round times three rounds per player) to determine its final final eight teams.

Yet the team that wins three 18 hole matches of the five total matches wins the NCAA championship.

Which brings us to today's men's US Amateur semifinals.  The eight men ranked as following in the world:

12, 16, 29, 91, 121, 198, 362, and 4292.

So: is best of five, 18-hole match play a fair way to identify the best team in the country?

The change in format to match play wasn't done to be fair, it was done for ratings and excitement. At least with the current NCAA team format, you have to be in the top 8 after 4 rounds of golf to qualify so you're not likely to get brobdingnagian underdogs like you do in individual matchplay.

Agreed and it really helped getting the coverage and interest. You can shoot the low round and lose the match, different game. Even starting with the coaches having to decide who plays in what order versus what the other team might do and even on the course do you try and make a tough shot that might win the hole or lay up and play to probably tie. Match play is far more interesting, particularly when you really care about the men and ladies wearing Cardinal and White.

[GK3]

Following up on our frequent criticisms of the NCAA's use of five-player, 18 hole match play to determine the national championship:

The PGA Tour uses 72 hole stroke play to determine a tournament's champion, and the NCAA uses 12 rounds (best four scores of five players for each round times three rounds per player) to determine its final final eight teams.

Yet the team that wins three 18 hole matches of the five total matches wins the NCAA championship.

Which brings us to today's men's US Amateur semifinals.  The eight men ranked as following in the world:

12, 16, 29, 91, 121, 198, 362, and 4292.

So: is best of five, 18-hole match play a fair way to identify the best team in the country?

The change in format to match play wasn't done to be fair, it was done for ratings and excitement. At least with the current NCAA team format, you have to be in the top 8 after 4 rounds of golf to qualify so you're not likely to get brobdingnagian underdogs like you do in individual matchplay.

Agreed and it really helped getting the coverage and interest. You can shoot the low round and lose the match, different game. Even starting with the coaches having to decide who plays in what order versus what the other team might do and even on the course do you try and make a tough shot that might win the hole or lay up and play to probably tie. Match play is far more interesting, particularly when you really care about the men and ladies wearing Cardinal and White.