Format change highlights NCAA men's golf

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 10th-ranked University of Arkansas men’s golf team faces many challenges at next week’s NCAA Championship in Toledo, Ohio. A talented field and a tough golf course at the Inverness Club will certainly be factors, but so will the format change for this year’s event. This year’s event opens with 54 holes of stroke play Tuesday-Thursday, May 26-28. An individual champion will be recognized and the field will be cut to the low eight teams who advance to two days of match play. These eight teams will be paired one versus eight, two versus seven and so on for three match play elimination rounds with the final team crown awarded Saturday after the final match. “We’re looking forward to next week,” said Arkansas head coach Brad McMakin. “The course is difficult. It’s not overly long and it’s tight which is good for us. I think it sets up well for us. “That being said,” McMakin continued, “we’re facing a different scenario there. It’s going to be an interesting seven days of golf.” Arkansas is the sixth-highest ranked team in this year’s field of 30 teams and is sending a solid lineup to Ohio. That lineup includes seniors Andrew Landry and Jason Cuthbertson, juniors David Lingmerth and Jamie Marshall and freshman Ethan Tracy. “It’s tough to play a format we haven’t seen all year,” said McMakin. “The NCAA is trying some new things and we’re working to find a format that will interest college golf fans and television. Any team who makes the cut to the final eight has a chance to win it. I guess we’ll try it and see how it goes.” The Razorbacks depart this weekend for their Monday practice round. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.