D1 vs D2 vs D3

[JuniorGolfParent]

For those who are familiar with college golf across divisions:

A highly ranked (let's say top 5) D2 team be competitive with X ranked D1 team

A top 5 D3 team would be competitive with Y ranked D2 team or Z ranked D1 team

What are X, Y and Z?

[leezer99]

I think this comes down to the recruiting the coaches have done year to year. The top schools are there because of their recruiting efforts and legacy results. With D2 and D3 you're kind of just getting kids that are available and like the school. I am probably totally off base here but I don't think there's a 'powerhouse' D2 or D3 school that consistently wins year over year.

[heavy_hitter]

Florida Southern has 13 National Championships and 4 runner ups. Lynn University is also known to be a powerhouse. Most of the schools playing D2 in Florida are the powerhouses for men. D3 right now would be Methodist and Oglethorpe.

[darter79]

You need a hobby.

[hattrick23]

This is his hobby

[JuniorGolfParent]

Golfstat has Georgia Southwestern St U as the #1 D2 team, and they have a 71.22 adj scoring avg and 76.45 adj drop score

#18 U of Arizona has the exact same 71.22 adj scoring avg, and 76.86 adj drop score (slightly higher than Georgia Southwestern)

Does this mean that the two teams are comparable? Does D1 play harder courses/setups than D2?

Illinois Wesleyan is the #1 D3 team with 71.38/76.68, similar to #23 D1 U of Florida 71.53/76.65; are they comparable?

[chrissdc]

Yes, D1 schools play longer courses.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

Methodist wins year after year. It's a PGM school. They're recruiting for that as well top golfers. You might be a standpoint freshman and make the traveling squad and then get bumped the next year. Then never travel again if unable to make it.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

Any reason for leaving NAIA off the list? Some great NAIA school out there.

[FSUGolfdog]

I've gone to watch 3 DII golf tournaments in the past year, most of the teams were from west of the Mississippi with the exception of 1 tournament. I think a couple schools from Florida were there, Barry was one of them who always seems to have a good team. The courses are shorter and not as difficult as what high ranked DI teams play. With all that being said I think a top 5 DII team could beat a 25-30 ranked DI team about 3-4 times out of 10. That's just my opinion based on what I've seen and looking at golfstat quite frequently.

[heavy_hitter]

I would agree with you. There are definitely D2 and D3 golfers that could make and play on Top 25 D1 teams as well.

In Women's Golf, it is highly common for JUCO teams to beat D1 teams.

[FSUGolfdog]

I would agree about the JUCO teams, my sons sophomore year JUCO team would have given the local DI program a run for their money.

[chisag]

... Politics in high school, among other things, don't make D1 colleges available for all athletes that deserve it. Got a new DC senior year and my son didn't start, although he was by far the best player. If you can't start in high school, making a college team is probably a dream at best. But at 6'3" and 235 running a 4.75 forty at least some DIII and NAIA schools were wiling to take a look at him and offered him scholarships or "aid" at DIII. By his jr year he was on a full scholarship at an NAIA school and was Defensive Team Captain and First Team All Conference. LOL, not bad for someone that didn't start in high school. The DC of his old high school was fired after 2 seasons. Duh.

... So while most in high school usually get a fair chance at the college level, there can be many reasons why a DI school doesn't even look at an eligible player. Plenty of opportunities to play at DII, DIII and N AIA schools. Fwiw, my son finished playing at 250 and running a 4.62 forty and was invited to several NFL camps and one of their teams WR's plays in the NFL. So don't over look colleges that aren't DI because you can still get an education for free or greatly reduced costs, meet friends for life and have a great playing experience with any sport.

[heavy_hitter]

Playing Golf in college has nothing to do with playing golf in High School. College Golf Coaches at the higher levels could care less what they do on the high school teams.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

Coaches have asked my son.

 

Grades - translation I don't want to babysit you in studyhall

Scores - Most expect a 5 stroke jump in the transition from junior/HS golf to college

Past results / Schedule with course setup - Are you shooting 75 on a par 70 course at 5900 with a slope of 129.

 

 

[heavy_hitter]

A really good junior player should be shooting not less that a 68 on a Par 70 course from 5900 yards. Shooting Par should be the worst they shoot.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

Agreed and honestly they shouldnt be playing on a 5900 yard course. Just to short for older high school kids.