As much of the buzz about NIL and the transfer portal seemed to quiet in 2023, college golf got a new and interesting controversy in the form of its scoring system (of all things).
Although things are progressing it still made for an interesting year, one that saw a number of big names exit the college game.
As we continue the countdown to 2024 by offering up a snapshot of our best stories from the year, take a scroll through some of the biggest stories from the world of college golf in 2023 (photo galleries, college facilities and lists were not included in this listing).
10
High school golfer Happy Gilmore (no, really) officially signs with Ball State
Bloomington South senior Happy Gilmore was destined to have success on a golf course.
Yes, that’s his real name. He signed his National Letter of Intent to play Division I college golf at Ball State.
His real first name is Landon, but he started going by “Happy” as a nickname when he was about 6 and started playing in golf tournaments.
9
Nine amateurs advanced through Stage 2 of LPGA Q-School. Now they have a decision to make
The second stage of LPGA Q-School took place last week in Venice, Florida, and of the 188 who started the week, 41 advanced. Among those 41 were nine amateurs, including LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad, who topped the field by four strokes with an 18-under total.
8
Third round of NCAA Division III women's golf championship canceled because of unplayable hole
In a bizarre situation, the third round of the NCAA Division III women’s golf championship was canceled because of an unplayable hole.
The situation occurred on the 308-yard par-4 sixth hole at Mission Inn & Resort’s El Campeon Golf Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Numerous videos posted to social media showed the pin placement on a severe slope with putts coming up just short of the hole rolling back 10 to 15 feet, if not more.
7
Stanford women's team sets NCAA record (but still trailed)
During the second day of play at the NCAA Tournament, the Stanford women’s team put together set an NCAA record for lowest round in championship history. Not bad for the top-seeded team and defending NCAA champions.
Yet it wasn’t the Cardinal in front with 36 holes to go, it was the second-seeded team (and No. 1 team in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings).
6
Ross Steelman fuels Georgia Tech's strong start
In four rounds during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, Ross Steelman made only three birdies. He didn’t make any on the back nine.
But the senior at Georgia Tech birdied three of his first four holes and added three more on the back nine in his opening-round 64 during the 2023 event, which was the lowest score recorded in the first round at Grayhawk the past three years. He didn’t have a bogey and was in control from his opening tee shot.
5
Golf world reacts to Spikemark being down in first week of college golf season
When the 2023-24 college golf season got underway there was no shortage of issues with Spikemark and its scoring system. Although the original rankings weren’t going to be released until October, tournaments, teams and fans across the country have had myriad issues trying the scoring side of it.
4
Sam Bennett's warm welcome home from Augusta
Sam Bennett, a fifth-year senior at Texas A&M, won the 2022 U.S. Amateur, which earned him a spot in the field at Augusta National. By Saturday’s start of the third round, he was in the final grouping, playing alongside eventual winner Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka.
When Bennett returned to College Station, Texas, late Sunday night, it was a great reception.
3
Who made the first cut at the 2023 NCAA Women's Golf Championship?
After 54 holes of stroke play, the field of 30 teams at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship was cut to 15.
Stanford, the defending national champion, took the lead on the hardest scoring day yet at Grayhawk Golf Club. Wake Forest, which led after the first two days, was tied for second with Texas. USC and Florida State were the only other teams under par.
2
Illinois, Florida make move at NCAA's second round
Well into the second week of the Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course hosting the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships in Scottsdale, Ariz., the course proved tough for college golf’s best. And it started to really firm up and show its shine during the second round.
But four players were under par for Illinois, and Florida was strong in the heat during a wild and woolly day in Arizona.
1
Scott Simpson Q&A: How he ended up in Hawaii coaching the men's golf team and more
Our Adam Schupak had a riveting conversation with Scott Simpson, who discusses among other things how he ended up in Hawaii coaching the men’s golf team, why nice guys don’t finish last and what happened to his Magnum P.I. mustache.
