NGCA creates new summer tournament

For more than two years now Roger Yaffe, executive director of the National Golf Coaches Association, has tried to get a summer tournament in some form or another started that would benefit college golfers. Word out of last week's NCAA Championship was that it was close at hand, and this morning an official release went out announcing the creation of the Hooters Women's Collegiate Team Championship.

The inaugural event will take place Aug. 3-5 on the Jack Nicklaus designed Signature Course at  Achasta by Reynolds in Dahlonega, Ga., about an hour north of Atlanta. Two-person teams of current women's college golfers (no incoming freshmen or outgoing seniors) from the same school (Division I, II or III) will compete in a three-day format, Day 1 consisting of Alternate Shot, Day 2 of Best Ball and Day 3 the combined scores of the two players. Sixty teams are expected to participate.

"The NGCA believes there is a lack of high quality amateur tournament opportunities for women's collegiate golfers during the summer," said Yaffe. "By creating this event, we are offering a unique format and professional operated event that also captures the spirit of college golf."

Among the teams already committed to play, according to Yaffe, are Duke, Florida, Georgia, Michigan State, Ohio State, Virginia and Wake Forest.

The only down side? With Hooters sponsoring the summer event, the seven-year-old in-season match-play tournament it previously started will be folded.