Donnie Wagner, assistant director of NCAA Championships, confirmed Friday, Sept. 28 what Golf World and Campus Insider first reported Sept. 27: that the proposals to change the NCAA Championship brought forward by the NCAA Division I men's golf committee this summer—to expand the number of regional sites from three to six and to restructure nationals with a 54-hole cut that leaves eight teams to compete in a medal/match-play format to determine a team champion—had been approved by the NCAA Championship Cabinet. Wagner said that the next stage of the process is for the proposals to be reviewed by the NCAA Management Council at their meeting next month in Indianapolis. The proposals are intended to be in place for the 2008-09 season. Wagner said that the decision on how many holes will be used to determine the NCAA individual champion next June at Purdue's Kampen Course is still to be determined.

THE FAB FIVE
My look at the top five teams in the country right now

MEN
1. Alabama (Last week: 1)
Slow start leaves Crimson Tide playing catch-up during final two rounds of Ping/Golfweek Preview. Fourth-place finish at Purdue's Kampen Course wasn't too bad as Gator Todd becomes fifth Alabama player with top-10 individual finish.
Next event: Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Old Overton GC, Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 8-9

2. Stanford (2)
Will be interesting to see how Cardinal reacts now that school finally has started in Palo Alto. Rob Grube's recent selection as captain solidifies his leadership role.
Next event: Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields Invitational, Olympia Fields CC, Olympia Fields, Ill., Sept. 30-Oct. 1

3. Charlotte (NR)
OK, 49ers. You've got our attention. Biggest win in school history with victory at the Ping Preview. Interesting fact No. 1: senior Andrew DiBitetto, an All-American last year, hasn't really kicked things into gear just yet. Interesting fact, No. 2: Jamie Green's roster is deeper than just the five who've traveled to the 49ers opening two wins this fall.
Next event: The Prestige, PGA West-Greg Norman Course, La Quinta, Calif., Oct. 15-16

4. USC (4)
Trojans' late kick not enough to catch Charlotte in West Lafayette, but good enough to grab them a third-place finish. Four different players post top-20 finishes, including defending national player of the year Jamie Lovemark.
Next event: Isleworth UCF-Collegiate, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 19-21

5. Georgia Tech (5)
The Yellow Jackets sat out the Preview after it switched from a three-day to a two-day tournament, as did Clemson and Georgia. The three hold outs face off at the Brickyard.
Next event: Brickyard Invitational, The Brickyard at Riverside, Macon, Ga., Oct. 7-9

WOMEN
1. Duke (2)
Three-time defending NCAA champs send a message to rest of women's college golf with one-stroke win the Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview in Albuquerque: we're not going anywhere. If not for slow start by Amanda Blumenherst (two over through first 26 holes before making 13 birdies and no bogeys over her final 28 holes at New Mexico's Championship Course), the victory margin could have been greater. Meanwhile, Jennie Lee finishes T-6 individually in her season debut.
Next event: Lady Tar Heel Invitational, UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 5-7

2. UCLA (1)
Solid third-place finish at NCAA Preview included seven-under 285 final-round score. Tiffany Joh and Maria Jose Uribe post top-10 performances. Bruins have broken par as a team in five of their first six rounds of the 2007-08 season.
Next event: The Stanford Intercollegiate, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 19-21

3. USC (5)
Haven't heard much from Dewi Claire Schreefel since her 2006 NCAA Championship victory but an impressive 15-under 204 total to win the Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview this week (one shot off the Trojans' 54-hole school record) is a great sign for USC fans ... as is the Trojans' second-place team finish, one shot back of Duke.
Next event: Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational, Sahalee CC, Redmond, Wash., Oct. 8-10

4. Arizona State (3)
So how tough is winning the Pac-10 going to be? Sun Devils' fourth-place showing at NCAA Preview shouldn't be a concern, except that they finished behind conference rivals USC and UCLA. Good news for ASU is that Jennifer Osborn is off to a slow start (T-28 and T-51). When she comes around, Melissa Luellen's squad will be just fine.
Next event: Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational, Sahalee CC, Redmond, Wash., Oct. 8-10

5. Auburn/Arizona (NR)
Can't mention one school without the other so far this season as the Tigers/Wildcats tied for sixth at the Mason Rudolph and then tied for sixth again at the NCAA Preview. Next head-to-head match-up between the two comes in February at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson.
Next event (Auburn): Lady Tar Heel Invitational, UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 5-7
Next event (Arizona): Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational, Sahalee CC, Redmond, Wash., Oct. 8-10

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 17-23
MEN
Stefan Wiedergruen, Charlotte
The junior, who enrolled at Charlotte after completing military service in his native Germany, closed with a final-round 68 at Purdue's Kampen Course to jump past teammate Jonas Enander Hedin and claim his first college title at the Ping/Golfweek Preview Sunday. The 23-year-old's seven-under 209 was two strokes lower than Enander Hedin and Minnesota's Victor Almstrom. In the final round, he opened with a front-nine 30 and didn't two putt a green until the ninth hole. Wiedergruen has finished in the top-10 at the German, Belgian, Finnish, Portuguese Amateurs.

WOMEN
Kira Meixner, Kent State
A school-record opening-round 66 at Penn State's Blue Course in State College, Pa., allowed the senior from Richmond, British Columbia, to post consecutive 73s to close out the Lady Northern Invitational and still claim medalist honors by three strokes. Meixner made 14 birdies overall as she also helped the Golden Flashes win the team title by five strokes over Michigan State.

STAT OF THE WEEK
13
Number of tournament titles that Charlotte seniors Jonas Enander Hedin, Andrew DiBitetto and Trevor Murphy have to their credit as collegians.


WHAT TO WATCH FOR
⿢ Word on the status of the proposals the NCAA men's D-I golf committee submitted this summer to change the structure of the NCAA Championship should be coming in the next week. The proposal to expand from three to six regional sites and create a 54-hole cut with eight teams advancing to a medal/match play format to determine a team champion have both gone through the first stage of approval from the NCAA Championship Cabinet. As part of the latter proposal, the individual champion will be determined after 54 holes. Whether that will happen this year, however, when the team champion is still crowned after 72 holes, a request the golf committee also made is uncertain.

    Editor's Note: Donnie Wagner, assistant director of NCAA Championships, confirmed Friday, Sept. 28 what Golf World and Campus Insider first reported Sept. 27: that the D-I proposals had been approved by the NCAA Championship Cabinet. Wagner said that the next stage of the process is for the proposals to be reviewed by the NCAA Management Council at their meeting next month in Indianapolis. The proposals are intended to be in place for the 2008-09 season. Wagner said that the decision on how many holes will be used to determine the NCAA individual champion next June at Purdue's Kampen Course is still to be determined.

⿢ The Virginia Tech men open their 2007-08 season next week at the VCU Shootout. Six months removed from the tragic shootings on the Blacksburg, Va., campus, and the Hokies' inspiring victory at the ACC Championship the following weekend, it will be interesting to see how coach Jay Hardwick's team responds to a return to the course. Equally intriguing will be to watch Drew Weaver return to action after one of the more impressive summers one could have. Weaver's unexpected win at the British Amateur championship in June, which ended a 28-year victory drought for Americans in the event, turned the 20-year-old from High Point, N.C., into a bit of a celebrity. Weaver handled himself with great poise at the British Open and a new-found confidence should hopefully have accompanied him back to campus this fall. Aside trying to continue to make a name for himself in the college ranks, Weaver can look forward to a few side trips to Augusta National GC this fall as he prepares for next year's Masters.

⿢ High school senior Luke Guthrie became a hot prospect this summer after solid performances in his first-ever AJGA starts (a win at the Rand Graphics-Wildcat Golf Wichita Junior Championship and a third at the Rolex Tournament of Champions). Having verbally committed to play at Illinois next fall, the 17-year-old from Quincy, Ill., will have a familiar face with him. Older brother Zach Guthrie was hired this week to be an assistant coach under Mike Small for the Fighting Illini. Zach just graduated from Western Illinois this past spring.

TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH
MEN
Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields Invitational
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Host: Illinois
Olympia Fields CC, Olympia Fields, Ill. (7,467 yards, par 72)
Field: Arizona State, Central Florida, Duke, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas
Defending champion: Duke (24-over 864); Niklas Lemke, Arizona State (one-over 211)
Skinny: Only in its second year, Illinois' tournament proves if you've got a very good golf course, you can become a must-play event pretty quick.

Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Warren GC, South Bend, Ind.
Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Host: Notre Dame
Field: Arkansas, Baylor, College of Charleston, Colorado State, Georgetown, Iowa, Lamar, Michigan State, North Florida, Notre Dame, San Diego, Virginia

VCU Shootout
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Hermitage CC, Manakin-Sabot, Va.
Oct. 1-2
Host: Virginia Commonwealth
Field: Iowa State, Liberty, Maryland, North Carolina, UNC-Wilmington, Old Dominion, Penn State, South Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, UT-Chattanooga, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Wichita State, Wisconsin

Husky Invitational
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Gold Mountain-Olympic Course, Bremerton, Wash.
Oct. 1-2
Host: Washington
Field: BYU, California, UC Davis, Fresno State, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Oregon State, Pacific, Pepperdine, San Diego State, Washington, Washington State

Xavier Invitational
Oasis GC, Loveland, Ohio
Oct. 1-2
Host: Xavier

WOMEN
UK Wildcat Fall Invitational
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
University Club of Kentucky, Big Blue Course, Lexington, Ky. (6,157 yards, Par 72)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Host: Kentucky
Field: Alabama, Arkansas, Central Florida, Florida, Illinois, Indiana State, Kentucky, Marshall, Memphis, Miami (Fla.), Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Richmond, South Florida
Defending champion: Memphis (65-over 929); Amanda Mathis, Mississippi State (nine-over 225)
Skinny: Horrendous rain and wind during the first two rounds of play a year ago marred the event and let to the high scores from the winning team and individual. (The overall scoring average was 81.71 with just two rounds at par or better). The host Wildcats are looking to improve upon their 13th-place showing a year ago with new coach Myra Blackwelder at the helm and junior transfer Mallory Blackwelder returning to a course where she was medalist two years ago as a freshman at Florida.

Wolverine Invitational
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
University of Michigan GC, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Sept. 29-30
Host: Michigan
Field: Bradley, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame, SMU, Toledo, Tulsa, Wisconsin

Yale Women's Fall Intercollegiate
Yale GC, New Haven, Conn.
Sept. 29-30
Host: Yale

Nittany Lion Women's Invitational
Penn State's Blue Course, State College, Pa.
Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Host: Penn State

CU Heather Farr Memorial Invitational
Oct. 1-2
Omni Interlocken, Broomfield, Colo.
Host: Colorado

Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational
Oct. 1-2
Colbert Hills GC, Manhattan, Kan.
Host: Kansas State

West Coast Conference
MEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Pepperdine
Predicted player of the year: Brian Locke, Loyola Marymount
Predicted freshman of the year: Andrew Putnam, Pepperdine
NCAA Regional bound: Pepperdine, San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Saint Mary's
Team on the rise: San Diego
Biggest question mark: Loyola Marymount
Wouldn't be surprised to see: Pepperdine emerge as a more consistent team than during the past few seasons.
Would be shocked to see: Saint Mary's senior Chadd Cocco not return to his status as one of the conference's best players after redshirting last season.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Brian Locke, Loyola Marymount
Freshman of the year: Brandon Crick, Gonzaga
Coach of the year: Scott Hardy, Saint Mary's
WCC medalist: Brian Locke, Loyola Marymount
All-WCC First team:
Michael Barry, San Diego*
Jason D'Amore, Loyola Marymount*
Darrin Hall, San Diego*
Domingo Jojola, San Francisco*
Brian Locke, Loyola Marymount*
Mike McRae, Saint Mary's*
Robert McRae, Saint Mary's*
Eric Shriver, Pepperdine*
Dale Smith, San Diego*
Jong Yoon, Santa Clara
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 RANKING
1. Pepperdine
2. San Diego
3. Loyola Marymount
4. Saint Mary's
5. Santa Clara
6. San Francisco
7. Portland
8. Gonzaga

WOMEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Pepperdine
Predicted player of the year: Taylore Karle, Pepperdine
Predicted freshman of the year: Taylore Karle, Pepperdine
NCAA Regional bound: Pepperdine, San Francisco
Team on the rise: San Francisco
Biggest question mark: Gonzaga
Wouldn't be surprised to see: San Francisco senior Jessica Potter make a good run at ending a six-year streak of WCC medalists coming from Pepperdine.
Would be shocked to see: Any team other than Pepperdine win the team title for a seventh straight year.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Misun Cho, Pepperdine
Freshman of the year: Misun Cho, Pepperdine
Coach of the year: Laurie Gibbs, Pepperdine
WCC medalist: Misun Cho, Pepperdine
All-WCC First team:
Jayvie Agojo, Pepperdine*
Leanne Bowditch, Pepperdine*
Misun Cho, Pepperdine
Taryn Kuida, Portland*
Nicole Montgomery, Pepperdine*
Mary Kate Morgan, Gonzaga
Kristin Nichols, San Francisco
Jessica Potter, San Francisco*
Christina Stockton, San Francisco*
Eileen Vargas, Pepperdine
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 RANKING
1. Pepperdine
2. San Francisco
3. Santa Clara
4. Portland
5. Gonzaga

What happened yesterday at Purdue's Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind., is what makes college golf such an interesting sport to follow. Traditional men's power Oklahoma State was taken down in the final round of the Ping/Golfweek Preview by upstart Charlotte. The 49ers entered Sunday's play three strokes back of the Cowboys, then posted a three-over 291 to OSU's 10-over 298 for the four-shot victory. (Click here for full results.)

A couple of points to digest. First, this is not an upset. Charlotte tied for third at last year's NCAA Championship and returned all eight players from that squad. Among them is junior Stefan Wiedergruen, a German native who claimed the individual title yesterday with a final-round 68 and a seven-under 209 total, two strokes better than his teammate, senior Jonas Enander Hedin. Meanwhile, Charlotte coach Jamie Green's team had won its season-opener 11 days earlier, the Scenic City Invitational, where sophomore Corey Nagy earned medalist honors and All-American Andrew DiBitetto finished 10th.

Telling was this quote from Green afterward: "I think there was an excitement level that this team has grown accustomed to," said Green, whose squad had been ranked ninth in the most recent Golf World/Nike Golf coaches' poll. "There's something about the personality of this team and how they approach it that is pretty special."

Second, this is not the last time we're going to see a "mid-major" team win a marquee event, defeating elite programs in the process. It's hard to even define exactly who is "elite" these days. Any men's coach worth his NCAA manual should start every season by writing eight words on a blackboard in front of his team:
    2002 NCAA Champions: Minnesota
    2004 NCAA Champions: California

The Gophers had been told they were going to be dropped from the school's athletic department the next year and went on to win a national title. The Bears only offered 2 1/2 scholarships when they brought a trophy back to Berkeley.

In other words, winning college golf's biggest prize -- or any tournament for that matter -- doesn't require starting five AJGA All-Americans in your line-up. Rather, it requires players who believe in themselves and each other. That's what Green's got at Charlotte. People joke about golf being a team event, but if you don't think positive vibes can run through a line-up and get the whole to play better than the sum of the parts, you're kidding yourself.

Third, this is the biggest win in the history of the Charlotte program. This doesn't contradict the first two points ... it merely shows how much the 49ers have elevated their program in recent years.

Other news from the weekend:
Kent State women, led by medalist Kira Meixner, walk away with Lady Northern title.
Skinny: Could the Golden Flashes be the women's version of Charlotte?

Penn State men make strong rally to win Wolf Run Invitational.
Skinny: The Nittany Lions football team couldn't have taken a lesson from the golfers.

Esther Choe misses advancing to the final stage of LPGA Q school by one stroke.
Skinny: She's got another shot next week to get there, but you wonder if she's thinking about that scholarship to Arizona the 18-year-old right about now.

Conference USA
MEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Central Florida
Predicted player of the year: Nicolas Geyger, Tulsa
Predicted freshman of the year: Jhared Hack, Central Florida
NCAA Regional bound: Central Florida, SMU, Houston, East Carolina
Team on the rise: Central Florida
Biggest question mark: Tulsa
Wouldn't be surprised to see: A first-time winner at the Conference USA Championship (only Houston and Tulsa have won previously).
Would be shocked to see: Even with Nicolas Geyger returning, Tulsa win any more than one tournament after losing four seniors with stroke averages of 73.13 or better

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Colt Knost, SMU
Freshman of the year: Christian Brand, Marshall
Coach of the year: Bill Brogden, Tulsa
Conference USA medalist: Garrett Osborn, Alabama-Birmingham
All-Conference USA First team:
Mitch Cohlmia, Tulsa
Jordan Irwin, Houston*
Colt Knost, SMU
Brett Myers, Tulsa
Garrett Osborn, Alabama-Birmingham
* returns in 2006-07

2007-08 RANKING
1. Central Florida
2. SMU
3. Houston
4. East Carolina
5. Tulsa
6. Alabama-Birmingham
7. Memphis
8. Marshall
9. UTEP
10. Rice
11. Southern Mississippi

WOMEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: SMU
Predicted player of the year: Michaela Cavener, Tulsa
Predicted freshman of the year: Katie Detlefsen, Central Florida
NCAA Regional bound: SMU, Central Florida
Team on the rise: Central Florida
Biggest question mark: Tulsa
Wouldn't be surprised to see: Central Florida sneak away with the conference crown despite SMU being the more talented team on paper.
Would be shocked to see: Kevin Williams return to East Carolina, where he started the women's program in 2000, end with a conference title in 2007-08, thanks to the transfer of the Pirates best player, Lene Krog.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Gerina Mendoza, UTEP
Freshman of the year: Sara Hurwitch, Central Florida
Coach of the year: Jenny Bruun, Memphis
Conference USA medalist: Gerina Mendoza, UTEP
All-Conference USA First team:
Jennifer Ackerson, SMU
Kate Ackerson, SMU*
Lacey Jones, SMU*
Gerina Mendoza, UTEP
Stacey Tate, Memphis
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 RANKING
1. SMU
2. Central Florida
3. Tulsa
4. East Carolina
5. Memphis
6. Marshall
7. Alabama-Birmingham
8. Southern Mississippi
9. UTEP

Mountain West Conference
MEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: UNLV
Predicted player of the year: Aaron Goldberg, San Diego State
Predicted freshman of the year: Ji Moon, UNLV
NCAA Regional bound: UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico
Team on the rise: UNLV
Biggest question mark: BYU
Wouldn't be surprised to see: Any of a half dozen players claim MWC player of the year honors.
Would be shocked to see: BYU bounce back in 2007-08 after losing four of their five best players, including Daniel Summerhays turning pro with one year of eligibility left, from last year's conference winning team.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Charlie Beljan, New Mexico
Freshman of the year: Robbie Fillmore, BYU
Coach of the year: Bruce Brockbank, BYU
Mountain West medalist: Robby Ormand, TCU
All-Mountain West First team:
Charlie Beljan, New Mexico
Zen Brown, Colorado State*
Jake Ellison, BYU
Aaron Goldberg, San Diego State*
Tyler Goulding, Air Force
Seung-Su Han, UNLV*
Clay Ogden, BYU
Robby Ormand, TCU*
Dustin Pimm, Utah*
Daniell Summerhays, BYU
Jarred Texter, UNLV*
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 RANKING
1. UNLV
2. San Diego State
3. New Mexico
4. TCU
5. BYU
6. Colorado State
7. Utah
8. Air Force
9. Wyoming

WOMEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: New Mexico
Predicted player of the year: Mikaela Backstedt, New Mexico
Predicted freshman of the year: Alejandra Guacaneme, UNLV
NCAA Regional bound: New Mexico, UNLV, BYU, TCU
Team on the rise: UNLV
Biggest question mark: BYU
Wouldn't be surprised to see: UNLV's Tanya Choate, a senior transfer from Division II Drury University, make a run at D-I All-American honors.
Would be shocked to see: Any one be able to replace the dependable Rachel Newren, BYU's unsung senior leader a year ago.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Rachel Newren, BYU; Jodi Ewart, New Mexico
Freshman of the year: Jodi Ewart, New Mexico
Coach of the year: Sue Nyhus, BYU
Mountain West medalist: Jodi Ewart, New Mexico
All-Mountain West First team:
Camille Blackerby, TCU
Valentine Derrey, TCU*
Juli Wightman-Erekson, BYU*
Jodi Ewart, New Mexico*
Natalia Jimenez, BYU*
Natasha Krishna, UNLV*
Catherine Matranga, TCU
Rachel Newren, BYU
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 RANKING
1. New Mexico
2. UNLV
3. BYU
4. TCU
5. San Diego State
6. Colorado State
7. Wyoming

Big Ten Conference
MEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Michigan State
Predicted player of the year: Ryan Brehm, Michigan State
Predicted freshman of the year: Chris DeForest, Illinois
NCAA Regional bound: Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Northwestern
Team on the rise: Wisconsin
Biggest question mark: Minnesota
Wouldn't be surprised to see: Northwestern's young team, with freshmen Ravi Patel and Josh Dupont, and sophomore David Lipsky likely getting significant playing time, make a little noise before the season is through
Would be shocked to see: New Iowa coach Mark Hankins lead the Hawkeyes to a Big Ten title ... this year at least.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Matt Harmon, Michigan State
Freshman of the year: Kevin Foley, Penn State
Coach of the year: Mark Hankins, Michigan State
Big Ten medalist: Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Purdue
All-Big Ten First team:
Jorge Campillo, Indiana*
Matt Harmon, Michigan State
Bronson La'Cassie, Minnesota
Niall Turner, Minnesota
Robert Rohanna, Penn State*
Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Purdue
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 RANKING
1. Michigan State
2. Minnesota
3. Wisconsin
4. Indiana
5. Northwestern
6. Penn State
7. Michigan
8. Illinois
9. Purdue
10. Ohio State
11. Iowa

WOMEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Purdue
Predicted player of the year: Maria Hernandez, Purdue
Predicted freshman of the year: Maude-Aimee LeBlanc, Purdue
NCAA Regional bound: Purdue, Michigan State, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State
Team on the rise: Indiana
Biggest question mark: Ohio State
Wouldn't be surprised to see: Any, or all, of the starting five at Purdue be named first-team All-Big Ten honorees.
Would be shocked to see: More than five teams make regionals.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Maria Hernandez, Purdue
Freshman of the year: Stefanie Endstrasse, Purdue
Coach of the year: Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Michigan State
Big Ten medalist: Rachel Meikle, Michigan State
All-Big Ten First team:
Sara Brown, Michigan State*
Dana Je, Ohio State
Christel Boeljon, Purdue*
Stefanie Endstrasser, Purdue
Myrte Eikenaar, Purdue
Maria Hernandez, Purdue*
* returns in 2007-08

2006-07 RANKING
1. Purdue
2. Michigan State
3. Indiana
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Northwestern
8. Penn State
9. Wisconsin
10. Illinois
11. Minnesota

We're not even a month into the new college season and already there is movement (of soon-to-be movement) on the coaching front. Northwestern women's coach Chris Regenberg announced yesterday that she would step down from her job at the end of the 2007-08 season. Regenberg has been the only coach of the Wildcats since the women's program was formed in 1992.

In other coaching-move news, Ohio State recently hired Brad Sparling as an assistant coach for the men's golf team. It's nice to see Sparling get back into coaching after the difficult spring he went through at Duke. An assistant to Blue Devils' late coach Rod Myers, Sparling filled in admirably as acting head coach when Myers health deteriorated. With O.D. Vincent named as Myers full-time replacement, Sparling moved on. This could be a very good spot for him as he works with Jim Brown, now in his 35th year as Buckeyes' head coach.   

THE FAB FIVE
My look at the top five teams in the country right now

MEN
1. Alabama (Last week: 2)
An impressive come-from-behind playoff victory at the Carpet Capital Collegiate gives us a new No. 1 for the week. Give tons of credit to Matt Hughes, a Georgia boy who came through with a final-round 67 to key the Tide's roll, as well as one of the two birdies Alabama had in the playoff to knock off South Carolina.
Next event: Ping/Golfweek Preview, Kampen Course, West Lafayette, Ind., Sept. 22-23

2. Stanford (1)
Hard to move a team that's idle ... except when the team jumping the idle school has already beaten the idle school earlier in the fall.
Next event: Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields Invitational, Olympia Fields CC, Olympia Fields, Ill., Sept. 30-Oct. 1

3. UCLA (3)
Got to believe the Bruins are going to be chomping at the bit to get things started. Somehow the start of the season is still, however, a month away.
Next event: Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, Chambers Bay GC, University Place, Wash., Oct. 23-24

4. USC (5)
The Trojans are loaded with bombers, which should suit them just fine this weekend in Indiana. Consistency will be this squad's biggest issue.
Next event: Ping/Golfweek Preview, Kampen GC, West Lafayette, Ind., Sept. 22-23

5. Georgia Tech (NR)
A third-place finish at home in the Carpet Capital to start the season bodes well for the Yellow Jackets, particularly considering their best player finished a disappointing T-82. Chesson Hadley's individual victory suggests the sophomore is ready to pick up where he left off last spring.
Next event: Brickyard Invitational, The Brickyard at Riverside, Macon, Ga., Oct. 7-9

WOMEN
1. UCLA (3)
Fantastic start for the Bruins with their 14-stroke victory at the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship last weekend. Three straight sub-par rounds ... four golfers finishing in the top 15 ... two freshmen getting off to solid start.
Next event: Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview, University of New Mexico Championship Cse., Albuquerque, Sept. 24-26

2. Duke (1)
Dominant performance from Amanda Blumenherst outside Nashville kept the Blue Devils from finishing no worse than third at Mason Rudolph. Dan Brooks sends a message with Jennie Lee not making the travel team; it's going to be fun to watch the inter-squad competition back in Durham.
Next event: Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview, University of New Mexico Championship Cse., Albuquerque, Sept. 24-26

3. Arizona State (2)
Sun Devils enjoy nice start to season with second-place showing at Mason Rudolph, but know for sure now that the Pac-10 is going to be one tough conference.
Next event: Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview, University of New Mexico Championship Cse., Albuquerque, Sept. 24-26

4. Oklahoma State (NR)
The Cowgirls place fourth at Mason Rudolph with Pernilla Lindberg posting three straight 70s for a T-3 individual showing. Problem last year for OSU was backing up a good finish with another good finish. Will be interesting to see if its different in 2007-08 with roster that only has five players currently.
Next event: Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview, University of New Mexico Championship Cse., Albuquerque, Sept. 24-26

5. USC (4)
Trojans' T-6 finish at Mason Rudolph is respectable for a season-opener, but you get the feeling there's a lot more in their tank than what we saw in Nashville.
Next event: Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview, University of New Mexico Championship Cse., Albuquerque, Sept. 24-26

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN
Jesse Barnsley, Pepperdine
The senior from Albuquerque played in front of a hometown crowd at the 53rd William H. Tucker Invitational and had fans cheering with a 12-under 204 to win medalist honors by eight strokes on the University of New Mexico Championship Course. Barnsley's first college victory also helped the Waves claim the team title in their season-opener. (Photo courtesy of Pepperdine Sports Information Department.)

WOMEN
Lisa Maunu, Notre Dame
While leading the Fighting Irish, which shot a school-best six-over 870, to the team title at the Cougar Classic in Hanahan, S.C., the junior also broke ND's 18- and 54-hole individual records with a first-round 66 on the Yeamans Hall Club and a six-under 210 to win her first college event. (Photo courtesy of Notre Dame Sports Information Department.)

STAT OF THE WEEK
2
Number of victories the Notre Dame women have in the past two weeks after claiming the title this week at the Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup on Tuesday, roughly a week after winning the Cougar Classic in South Carolina. This compares to no wins last year for the Fighting Irish, who have only captured back-to-back titles just three times in their 20 years of existence, and three runner-up finishes.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
⿢ What's that saying about the best laid plans ... As men's programs are trying to figure out how to stay on the right side of the new .500 rule in college golf, many of them are learning that playing in tournaments with so called "easier" competition doesn't necessarily mean you'll rack up a but of easy wins.
Look at Arizona. The Wildcats were the highest ranked team to play in the Purdue Midwest Shootout two weeks ago, a scheduled one-day, 36-hole event at Purdue's Kampen Course, site of next year's NCAA Championship. Rain forced the event to be shortened to one round, one in which the Wildcats struggled, finishing in ninth place and causing U of A to go back to Tucson with a 7-8 record. Playing against a stronger field in last week's Tucker Invitational, Arizona finished eighth and now carries a 16-15 overall mark. Not bad, but not the start that will allow the Wildcats to breathe better this fall.

This past week the University of Texas hosted a two-day, 36-hole event dubbed the Texas Cup. Of the 11 teams in the field, only the Longhorns were ranked in Golf World/Nike Golf's latest top 25 poll. And while UT finished only third (a surprise considering the event was on their home course) they do come away with an 8-2 record. That might help, but I'm sure John Fields would have liked to go 10-0.

Meanwhile, the biggest "name" team that might have real concerns about the .500 rule and qualifying for the postseason is 10th ranked Clemson. The Tigers went 0-3 at the Topy Cup and then their disappointing 13th-place finish at the Carpet Capital Collegiate last weekend (even with a jetlagged Kyle Stanley playing, finishing an amazingly poor 74th individually), leaves them at 5-15. The good news is Clemson plays against a slightly weaker field at the Brickyard Invitational the first week of October. But they better not slip up or they risk falling into a real hole record wise.

⿢ The newest edition of the Golf World/Nike Golf coaches' polls appears in this week's Golf World. Interestingly in the Division II poll, defending NCAA D-II champion Barry University jumped Florida Southern into the top spot. This, despite the fact that neither school has played in an event just yet. Thankfully, the two can settle it on the course this weekend as both are in the field at the Coker College Invitational at Orange County National in Orlando.

⿢ The Duke women's golf team will be making a quick stop prior to jetting out to New Mexico for the upcoming Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview in Albuquerque. The Blue Devils are scheduled to go to Washington, D.C., tomorrow to meet with President George W. Bush in an annual visit to the White House for NCAA champions. (The Stanford men's team that won the 2007 NCAA title already made their trip to the White House last June ... here is a link to some photos of the big day.)

TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH
MEN
Ping/Golfweek Preview
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Sept. 22-23
Host: Purdue
Kampen Course, West Lafayette, Ind. (7,467 yards, par 72)
Field: Alabama, Arizona State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Lamar, Louisville, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Southern California, Texas A&M, UNLV
Defending Preview champion: Florida (six-under 834); Billy Horschel, Florida (seven-under 203)
Skinny: This year's Preview has become a bit of a lightning rod in the struggle between coaches that support playing nine three-day tournaments versus a 24-day max schedule with two- and three-day events. The tournament was originally scheduled for three days, but Purdue coach Devon Brouse (an anti-three day coach) got the tournament switched to a two-day (36/18) affair. This caused Georgia, Georgia Tech and Clemson to drop out. Meanwhile, as for on the course matters, don't expect to see the low numbers last year's Preview at Golden Horseshoe GC yielded. The Kampen Course is a long, stout test.

Wolf Run Intercollegiate
Wolf Run GC, Zionsville, Ind. (7,195 yards, par 71)
Sept. 22-23
Host: Indiana
Field: Arkansas, Ball State, Denver, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, IUPUI, Kent State, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Northwestern, Penn State, UNC Greensboro, Toledo, Virginia

Jim Colbert Intercollegiate
Colbert Hills GC, Manhattan, Kan.
Sept. 24-25
Host: Kansas State

Shoal Creek Intercollegiate
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Shoal Creek CC, Birmingham, Ala.
Sept. 24-25
Host: Alabama-Birmingham

Adams Cup of Newport
Newport National GC, Newport, R.I.
Sept. 25-26
Host: Rhode Island
Field: Brown, Connecticut, Francis Mason, Furman, Georgetown, Long Beach State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Maryland, Pacific, Rhode Island, USC-Aiken, Southern Mississippi, Texas-San Antonio, Wichita State, Yale

WOMEN
Margaret Moses Branch NCAA Preview
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
University of New Mexico Championship Cse., Albuquerque (6,069 yards, par 73)
Sept. 24-26
Host: New Mexico
Field: Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, BYU, Duke, Georgia, Louisville, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, Purdue, Southern California, Stanford, TCU, UCLA, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest
Defending Preview champion: Georgia (five-over 869); Nicole Smith, Tennessee (five-under 211)
Skinny: Not quite the controversy here that the men are facing. Ten of the top 11 teams in the country that competed against each other at last weekend's Mason Rudolph are at it again, with the lone missing school (Pepperdine) also joining them.

Lady Northern
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Penn State's Blue Course, State College, Pa.
Sept. 22-23
Host: Penn State
Field: Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rollins College, Toledo, Wisconsin

Princeton Invitational
Springdale GC, Princeton, N.J.
Sept. 22-23
Host: Princeton

ULM Fred Marx Invitational
    (For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Bayou Desiard CC, Monroe, La.
Sept. 24-25
Host: Louisiana-Monroe
Field: Arkansas State, Centenary, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Henderson State, Jacksonville State, Louisiana-Monroe, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Sam Houston State, Samford, South Alabama, Texas-Pan American, Troy, Wichita State

Myrtle Beach Classic
Grande Dunes Resort, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Sept. 24-25
Host: Coastal Carolina

Pac-10 Conference
MEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Stanford
Predicted player of the year: Jamie Lovemark, USC
Predicted freshman of the year: Philip Francis, UCLA
NCAA Regional bound: Stanford, USC, UCLA, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State
Team on the rise: USC
Biggest question mark: Arizona State
Wouldn't be surprised to see: Arizona State actually fail to make it to NCAA regionals.
Would be shocked to see: The Cardinal not back up their 2007 NCAA title with another run at a national championship in 2008.

2006-07 Accolades
Players of the year: Niklas Lemke, Arizona State; Jamie Lovemark, USC
Freshman of the year: Jamie Lovemark, USC
Coach of the year: Conrad Ray, Stanford
Pac-10 medalist: Jamie Lovemark, USC
All-Pac-10 First team:
Kevin Chappell, UCLA*
Rob Grube, Stanford*
Niklas Lemke, Arizona State
Jamie Lovemark, USC*
Zack Miller, Stanford
Matt Savage, Stanford
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 predicted finish:
1. Stanford
2. USC
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Arizona
6. Arizona State
7. Oregon
8. California
9. Oregon State
10. Washington State

WOMEN
2007-08 outlook
Predicted champion: Arizona State
Predicted player of the year: Alison Walshe, Arizona
Predicted freshman of the year: Maria Jose Uribe, UCLA
NCAA Regional bound: Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Arizona, Stanford, California
Team on the rise: USC
Biggest question mark: Stanford
Wouldn't be surprised to see: If the top three teams at the 2008 NCAA Championship are from the Pac-10.
Would be shocked to see: Fewer than four players receive first-team All-American honors.

2006-07 Accolades
Player of the year: Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State
Freshman of the year: Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State
Coach of the year: Melissa Luellen, Arizona State
Pac-10 medalist: Tiffany Joh, UCLA
All-Pac-10 First team:
Tiffany Joh, UCLA*
Paola Moreno, USC*
Azahara Munoz, Arizona State*
Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State*
Jennifer Osborn, Arizona State*
Alison Walshe, Arizona*
* returns in 2007-08

2007-08 predicted finish:
1. Arizona State
2. UCLA
3. USC
4. Arizona
5. Stanford
6. California
7. Washington
8. Oregon State
9. Oregon
10. Washington State