Differences in weather and playing conditions no longer can be used as an excuse by men’s college golf teams participating in NCAA regionals, which begin today.
For the first time since regional play was instituted a dozen years ago, the format was changed. The number of regional sites was doubled to six, and the smaller fields (13 or 14 teams) will mean that teams at a regional likely will play under like conditions.
Coaches of the area’s three regional qualifiers applaud the change. Regionals had been comprised of 27 or so teams.
“In the past, some teams might really catch a break by getting to tee off in the morning while others might be penalized by playing in the afternoon if the wind kicked up,” Colorado coach Roy Edwards said.
“It’s fairer this way,” Colorado State coach Jamie Bermel added.
Colorado State is seeded No. 6 in the Northeast Regional at Galloway (N.J.) National Golf Club. CU is seeded No. 8 in the West Regional at Lake Merced Golf and Country Club in Daly City, Calif. The University of Denver drew the 11th seed in the South Central Regional at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.
It takes a top-five finish in a regional to advance to the NCAA championship, May 26-30 at Inverness in Toledo, Ohio.
Colorado State (ranked No. 29 by Golfweek) and Colorado (No. 39) could make some noise. CSU has more depth than any of Bermal’s previous eight Rams teams. “All of our five players can win golf tournaments,” Bermal said.
CU rides its two horses, seniors Derek Tolan (No. 40 nationally) and Pat Grady (No. 42), but needs strong play from junior Luke Symons and two freshmen. The Buffaloes opened eyes by finishing second in the Big 12 Tournament. “I’m excited because we can play even better than we’ve shown,” Edwards said.
This and that. From the hard-to-believe file: Colorado’s Tolan and Grady are separated by just three strokes in their senior season. Both have played 37 rounds, with Tolan taking 2,660 strokes (71.89) and Grady taking 2,663 strokes (71.97). Those scoring averages rank 2-3 among players in the West Regional, behind Southern Cal’s Matthew Giles (71.39).
The recent signing by the DU women’s team of 2006 U. S. Women’s Amateur champion Kimberly Kim of Hawaii should have attracted more interest from local media outlets. Kim became the youngest U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion, at age 14. “We’re thrilled to get Kimberly,” DU women’s coach Sammie Chergo said. “But there will be a lot of expectations, and college golf is different.”
The Pioneers, winners of the Eastern Regional, play in the NCAA Championship next week in Maryland.
Footnote. The 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor needs 3,000 volunteers. Go to or call 719-471-6493. The seventh annual First Tee of Denver benefit tournament is set for June 8 at City Park Golf Course. Dahntay Jones of the Nuggets is scheduled to be the guest speaker. The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) will make a tour stop June 2-4 at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs. Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Gossage will be the guest speaker and is playing this weekend in the third annual Trinidad Community Foundation benefit tournament (719-846-3943) at Cougar Canyon Golf Links.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
