Colorado prep golf coaches have long clamored for a change in the setup of regional tournaments used for qualifying for the state tournament.
The Colorado High School Activities Association made a change for the 2013 season — which opens Aug. 8 — as the state’s 55 Class 5A teams will be divided into four regional tournaments based on league finish for the first time.
Previously, regionals had been predetermined before the season. Entire leagues played in the same regional tournament, often making a few out of balance in terms of strength and number of teams.
“The golf board at CHSAA was very open and to their credit, they took the reins and were very proactive about it,” said Grandview coach Randy Smith, one of the biggest proponents of change in the past.
“At the end of the day, it’s what’s best for the kids and hopefully this is going to put a more competitive field on the course for the state championship,” he added.
The hope is that this season’s 5A boys state golf tournament — scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 on the edge of Aurora at CommonGround G.C. — has the best field possible, which wasn’t always the case in the previous regional format.
For instance, last season’s 5A Metro East Regional included the loaded Centennial League, plus two Continental League powers — defending state champion Regis Jesuit and Heritage.
With a whopping eight players shooting par or better, the Metro East required a playoff among six players who shot 76 for its final state spot, a group that included Grandview’s Kyle Carr and Chris Magoon and Smoky Hill’s Blake Spencer.
All three Aurora players lost out in the regional and stayed at home for state, while 38 players who shot 77 or higher at other regionals got to play. A 93 was good enough at the Metro West tournament and 85 in Colorado Springs.
Five players went on to shoot rounds of 100 at the state tournament at Golden’s challenging Rolling Hills C.C.
The new format shuffles teams between regionals based on league finish, with a maximum of three league teams in the same tournament. The Central, Northern and Southern regionals will have 14 teams each, while the Western will have 13.
Two teams and 13 individuals not on one of the qualifying teams now make state, forming a field of 84.
The change will also be in effect for the 5A girls season in the spring.
While there are 55 teams set to play at the 5A level this season, the CHSAA’s table includes 12 slots for each league — most of which don’t have that many teams — to account for future expansion/changes according to CHSAA assistant commissioner Tom Robinson, who oversees golf.
Robinson said the change is long overdue in the 5A ranks, where the close geography of most of the schools makes it possible, while the 4A and 3A classifications retain a traditional format because of the wider distribution of its members.
Cherokee Trail coach Troy Flores lauded the regional change, but would even take it a step further and implement of a series of state qualifying tournaments throughout the season like states such as Oregon and Texas have in place.
“We’ve taken a step in the right direction; the goal should be to get the best players into state,” Flores said. “If we model ourselves after some of the more progressive states, we’d have a number of qualifying tournaments so whether kids go to state or not doesn’t weigh heavily on just the one regional round.”
Smith also believes the change will help weed out some of the higher scores that pop up at the state tournament, which helps further legitimize the performance of the top players in the eyes of college coaches.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555. Follow @aurorasports on Twitter and find the Aurora Prep Sentinel page on facebook.
2013 CLASS 5A BOYS GOLF REGIONALS
Southern (Colorado Springs host league, Sept. 16 at Colorado Springs Country Club): Centennial Nos. 1, 5, 9; EMAC Nos. 1, 5, 9; Denver Nos. 2, 6, 10; Southwest Nos. 2, 6, 10; Colorado Springs Metro Nos. 2, 11; Front Range Nos. 3, 7, 11; Jeffco Nos. 4, 8, 12
Central (Continental host league, Sept. 16 at Murphy Creek G.C.): Continental Nos. 1, 5, 9; Jeffco Nos. 1, 5, 9; Centennial Nos. 2, 6, 10; EMAC Nos. 2, 6, 10; Denver Nos. 3, 7, 11; Southwest Nos. 3, 7, 11; Colorado Springs Nos. 4, 8, 12; Front Range Nos. 4, 8, 12
Northern (Front Range host league, TBD): Colorado Springs Nos. 1, 5, 9; Front Range Nos. 1, 5, 9; Continental Nos. 2, 6, 10; Jeffco Nos. 2, 6, 10; Centennial Nos. 3, 7, 11; EMAC Nos. 3, 7, 11; Denver Nos. 4, 8, 12; Southwest Nos. 4, 8, 12
Western (Jeffco host league, TBD at Raccoon Creek G.C.): Denver Nos. 1, 5, 9; Southwest Nos. 1, 5, 9; Colorado Springs Nos. 2, 6, 10; Front Range Nos. 2, 6, 10; Continental Nos. 3, 7, 11; Jeffco Nos. 3, 7, 11; Centennial Nos. 4, 8, 12; EMAC Nos. 4, 8, 12
