Schuckman: IHSA needs to re-examine equitable treatment of golfers at state tourney

The heartache the Macomb boys golfers endured and the disappointment shared by the Bombers’ rivals resonated loudly.

No one considered what happened at the Class 2A state tournament to be equitable or fair.

The Bombers shot a 309 in last Friday’s opening round of the state tournament at Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Ill., leaving them 12 strokes out of second place but clearly within striking distance of a team trophy. All it was going to take was a couple of lucky bounces and a couple of creative putts to make things interesting.

The way the Bombers played Saturday, it could have been really interesting.

Connor Hamm shot a 3-under 69, while Glenn Sutton posted a 75 and Griffin Taylor shot a 76. Combined, they were nine strokes better than Day 1. With Wheaton Academy, which finished third, shooting nine strokes worse the second day, an opportunity arose to make a charge.

Too bad such an opportunity never truly existed.

That’s the disheartening part of this tale.

Macomb landed ninth in the team standings, which meant there wouldn’t be a second day of competition for the entire squad. In 2018, the Illinois High School Association’s golf advisory committee approved a recommendation to reduce the state tournament field to the top eight teams and the top 24 individuals not on those eight teams for the second day of play.

In essence, a field of 112 golfers would be reduced to 72.

This year, it meant half of the Bombers’ lineup wouldn’t play the second day and any chance of rallying for a state trophy was gone.

Macomb golf coach Greg Duncan tweeted: “Absolutely crushed for my guys! 12 strokes out of 2 on a day we didn’t play our best. We missed the cut by 2 strokes. I don’t understand the reasoning when only 24 kids don’t get to play. I will never understand.”

Others agreed.

Quincy Notre Dame golf coach Brian Hendrian tweeted: “IHSA cut to 8 teams after day 1 of State is a bad rule. Today in 2a 9th is only 12 shots out of 3rd and in 3a 9th is only 9 shots out of 3rd. In team golf that deficit is nothing. You qualify for state you should get to play both days. I’m gutted for @GDunc6371 and Macomb.”

Culver-Stockton College men’s golf coach Tim Schrage called it a “horrible rule.”

But it is the rule, and it appears to be so for one distinct reason: Pace of play.

In December 2019, the golf advisory committee offered this rationale for continuing with the first-day cuts: “The committee believes that these recommendations that advance fewer players to each round of the state series will create a playing environment/atmosphere that will allow players to play at both days of the state finals without the pace of play concerns generated by the size of previous fields.”

How much of an impact did it have on pace of play this year?

Not much if you look at how things unfolded.

According to the advisory committee’s recommendations, the final day of competition should be limited to 72 golfers — six from each of the eight qualifying teams, which is 48 golfers total, and the top 24 individuals not on those teams. Please correct my math if it’s wrong, but anyway I try, it always adds up to 72.

However, in Class 1A and Class 2A, 88 golfers advanced to the second day. Because of ties, 91 golfers played the second day at the Class 3A tournament. Six fewer groups teed off the second day, which saved roughly an hour of real time.

It brings into question how equitable and fair these rules and decisions are, especially if the recommendations that are approved aren’t being followed. 

The IHSA mission statement is “The IHSA governs the equitable participation in interscholastic athletics and activities that enrich the educational experience.” Leaving 24 golfers who qualified for the state tournament out of the second round of play certainly doesn’t seem equitable or enriching.

Now, these rules can change.

According to Kurt Gibson, assistant executive director of the IHSA who oversees boys golf, “Any and all items can be reviewed on a yearly basis. If a school chooses to make a proposal to review something of that nature, the advisory committee would review the proposal.”

Maybe it’s time for the golf coaches to take a stand for fair and equitable play.

In a sport where honor and trust are the backbone of competitive play, the honorable thing to do would be to let the kids enjoy the full state tournament experience.