SCOTTSDALE (Ariz.) — After the NCAA regionals, a text message was sent to the ACC coaches with the words “Congratulations“. Then, the group continued the conversation by saying “let’s get going!” Five teams, North Carolina, Georgia Tech Florida State Virginia and Duke, punched their tickets for the Grayhawk finals.
After 54 holes of golf at Grayhawk, you may not receive any texts about your league pride. Even your best friend would want to be in the eight spots that qualify for match play.
“Those are people with whom we have meetings.” Florida State Coach Tre Jones said, “We cheer for them. We have full respect for them. And we know them well.”
There is a buzz about the ACC this week at Grayhawk Golf Club, but it hasn’t been that way for a long time.
ACC teams did not have much success with the NCAA match-play format. Five teams were eligible for bracket play: Georgia Tech (Duke), Florida State (North Carolina), Wake Forest, and Florida State. Since 2009, these five teams have appeared in 11 match-play matches.
Georgia Tech is the most frequent participant with four appearances. The combined ACC record of wins and losses is 4-11, with Duke’s 2-2 score being the best.
Men’s individual
NCAA Leaderboard: Team | Individual | Photos
The ACC has never even reached the final match. This may change in 2019.
Bruce Heppler, Georgia Tech’s coach, said that Florida State was better than most people thought. North Carolina had also been successful for three years, while Bowen has done a fantastic job at Virginia. It’s an excellent league.
Jones said: “We are aware that Chapel Hill has an ultra-talented team, Georgia Tech is a talented squad, Virginia is getting better and better every year, and Duke has come to play.”
Does this format have any reason to be successful for the ACC?
A format change in the conference championship three years ago may have played a role. The answer depends on who you talk to. The 54-hole stroke play was changed to match play, with a cut of four teams.
Virginia coach Bowen Sargent stated, “I’m not sure if we are better as a Conference.” It probably prepares us mentally better.”
The teams will have to face the cutline in the postseason.
Heppler stated, “You have to face two cutlines here and one at regionals.” How do you make it feel like this for me? It wasn’t about playing match play; it was more about making the conference championship feel like this in terms of stroke play. Create the feel of two cuts at the regionals and a cut here.
North Carolina is in fourth place and the top ACC squad by one stroke over Georgia Tech after three rounds. Florida State and Virginia are also within reach of a top eight finish.
The Tar Heels did not make the final cut in the conference championship but this could have helped them here in the playoffs.
North Carolina’s coach Andrew Dibitetto stated, “You have a little more juice at ACC Championship. If it goes well you gain some confidence. And if not you go home and talk to your family.” “It didn’t go our way at ACCs.”
North Carolina was eliminated from the ACC match after finishing T-6.
When we changed the format, it was to prepare our teams for postseason. “Now that it’s been three years, I do think there are some benefits to it,” Dibitetto stated.
Since Clemson won the national championship in 2003, the ACC hasn’t had a title. Before that, Wake Forest was the only one to win an NCAA championship – they won three titles (1974, 1975, and 1986).
Grayhawk could see a change in the next few days.
