Also for the first time, the champions of several conferences from the Mid-American to the Ivy League will automatically qualify for the postseason fiesta. Dianne Dailey, Wake Forest coach and head of the NCAA women s golf championships committee, figures this expansion will lead to at least nine schools advancing to regionals that never before have seen postseason action. This is a fantastic step for women s golf, and reflects the continued advancement of women athletes and women in general. These increased opportunities afford more young women the chance to pursue not only an education, but also a sport they can play for a lifetime and possibly for a living. No longer is it a choice between one or the other golf or academics.
Young women can have both.
I indicate the NCAA s awareness and commitment to the expanding arena of women s golf. This commitment, however, is only one manifestation of the sport s changing face. Last year s emergence of the Big 10 Conference as a force caught the attention of interested parties across the country. The days of using poor weather and limited practice opportunities as excuses have passed, and these schools are ready to stake claim to a piece of the competitive pie. Every season new women s golf programs pop up across the country.