When it comes to high school golf, it’s not just tee times, it’s team time.
That’s the message coming from the IHSAA and the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association (IHSGCA), and the reason behind a change in the format of the golf post-season, which goes into effect this September for girls golf and in the spring for boys golf. The result will be three more teams qualifying for the state finals.
That change will be accomplished by adding a regional to the post-season. The current format, which has been in use since 2012, has the top three teams in each of the 30 sectionals advance to one of five regionals across the state. Then, the top three teams from each regional advance to the state finals, for a total of 15 qualifying teams.
Beginning this season, there will still be 30 sectionals, but this time the top three teams advance to one of six regionals. The advancement from regionals to state also remains the same: The top three qualify for state, for a total of 18 teams.
The proposal was approved by the IHSAA during the organization’s May Executive Committee meeting. Josh Bryant, Westfield’s golf coach and past president of the IHSGCA, said the proposal was generated by the IHSAA and its executive board.
“The Coaches Association was involved in committee meetings and supported the framework of the final proposal from the executive board after a few meetings,” said Bryant. “The Coaches Association is very thankful the relationship with the IHSAA and their willingness to allow us to have a voice in decision making.”
The IHSAA stated the rationale in its published minutes of the meeting: “(The IHSGCA’s) view is many student-athletes play tournaments throughout the year that are completely individual. While golf is an individual sport, it is the team aspect to golf that sets the IHSAA state tournament apart from everything they compete in.”
Bryant expanded on those comments: “The vast majority of coaches feel that school golf is team golf,” he said. “It is the only time of year that our players can participate in a team setting and compete for a championship. They are afforded individual opportunities locally, regionally and nationally to compete as individuals.” Bryant also said that by adding a regional while keeping the advancement rule the same, “you will see new faces from areas around the state that now have an opportunity to compete.”
The change in the format will also mean a change in how individuals advance. The top three individuals not on an advancing team will move on to the regional level from the sectional; that is unchanged from the previous format.
But in the new format, only the top two individuals on a non-advancing team qualify for state. The reason is mathematics: Under the previous format, 100 players qualified for state, 75 on a team and 25 individuals. Now, the total will be 102 players, 90 on a team and 12 individuals. Since 102 is divisible by three, it will allow for exactly 34 threesomes to take to the course during the state finals.
“Despite there being an additional Regional, it will still be very competitive and a great accomplishment for the teams who advance to the State Finals,” said Noblesville coach Justin Werkley.
LOCAL CHANGES
The IHSAA released the sectional groups in its June 23 Executive Committee meeting minutes. Hamilton County’s teams will still be divided among two sectionals, with Guerin Catholic and Noblesville the hosts.
The Golden Eagles will welcome eight other teams to Pebble Brook Golf Course for Sectional 13 competition: Brebeuf Jesuit, Cardinal Ritter, Carmel, Lebanon, Pike, Speedway, University and Westfield. While the same county teams are in the sectional, Lebanon is a new addition. Ben Davis and Covenant Christian were previously in the sectional, but they have been moved out to Sectional 15, hosted by Brownsburg.
The top three teams out of Pebble Brook will be heading to Battleground Golf Club in Lafayette for Regional 3 competition, hosted by Lafayette Jefferson. That’s a significant change, as the winner of this sectional had for years competed at the Roncalli regional at Smock Golf Club.
Noblesville will host Sectional 16 at Harbour Trees. The lineup there also features Alexandria, Elwood, Fishers, Frankton, Hamilton Heights, Hamilton Southeastern, Lapel, Noblesville, Pendleton Heights and Tipton. The Blue Devils are new in the sectional this season; they replace Shenandoah, which was moved to the New Palestine sectional.
The top three out of Harbour Trees will advance to Regional 4 at The Edge in Lapel, the same as in years past.
“It doesn’t look like there were any significant changes for us specifically, but if the realignment allows more of the top teams to advance to the State Finals each year, I consider that a positive,” said Werkley.
Bryant, who will take over as the Westfield girls coach this season, is also “very happy” with the decisions. He said that winning a team championship “is still the highest level of accomplishment you can have” as a player on a team, and that while many could argue that there are more prestigious events than an individual high school state championship, “no one can argue the team aspect isn’t the pinnacle,” he said.
The IHSAA State Finals will continue to take place at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, which has hosted state since 2014. Now, more teams will get a chance to play.