Coaches and athletic directors had been pushing for the changes.
The new format calls for each of the six schools to host one league match during the season in which every school participates. Under the old format, schools played dual matches with each other. the tournament style is used by colleges and other high school leagues.
"this way, each school gets to host a match on its home course with 48 golfers, eight golfers from each school, competing," Borgerson said. "this Monday, we will all be at our home course, Merion West, for the matches."
The matches begin at 3 p.m. with a shotgun start. there is some doubling up on holes at the start. the top six players for each eight-person team count in the scoring.
"on our first day of play, Haverford School finished 5-0," Borgerson said. "Malvern Prep was 4-1, and we were 3-2."
The Fords are the defending league champions and are strong favorites to win the title again. Chestnut Hill, Germantown Academy, and Penn Charter are the other league schools.
Malvern Prep coach Gary Duda said that some kinks might have to be worked out in the first year but that he’s a big proponent of the fall season. the Inter-Ac’s spring sports season usually started March 1.
"that time is not always conducive to baseball, let alone golf," Duda said. "the quality of play suffered."
Ironically, the recent heavy rains from Hurricane Irene cost the teams the first week of play this season.
Duda also noted that it was a little hectic going rather quickly from a spring season into a fall season.
"some of our schools struggle with access at the private courses they use," Duda said. "We just finished the spring season, and right away we were asking the clubs for fall dates."
Some schools had to arrange to play their scheduled league match at another site because their usual course couldn’t accommodate them. for example, Malvern, which usually plays at Waynesborough Country Club, is scheduled to host its league date at Applebrook Golf Club in East Goshen.
"August and September are big months for golf events at the private clubs," Borgerson said.
Both coaches agreed that with all the league’s players on the same course at the same time on a given date, it makes it easier for college coaches to look at prospective players.
"All the players are facing the same par and other conditions," Duda said.
Episcopal Academy athletic director Gina Buggy said she liked the changes.
"I think it’s working out very well," she said.
The league still will hold an 18-hole individual championship tournament. That’s scheduled for Oct. 24 at Philadelphia Cricket Club. Malvern sophomore Michael Davis is the defending champ.
The Inter-Ac schools will be among those competing in the first Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools championship Oct. 29. the Hill School will be the host school for the tournament at Brookside Country Club.
Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 267-815-0733
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