What's the difference between D1 and D2 level golf?

[nevets88]

Of course D1 is closest to semi-pro/pro, practically a launching ground for professional golf, but how does D2 compare? Just asking because saw this tweet.

 

[JxQx]

Compare in what way? You can have really good D2 teams and poor D1 teams.

I'm sure there are some players out there who would rather be recruited and play for a really good D2 team and get some scholarship money than have to try to be a walk on for a lower level D1 team or be a non scholarship player.

[iacas]

Since it’s determined mostly by the school and not the golf program… less than you might think.

Some D3 schools are very good too.

[RandyBobbitt]

I'm guessing that Div I players mostly aspire to be tour pros, while Div II players are there for the love of competition and have more realistic goals; they know they're not going to make it to the tour. The only big-name American pro I can think of who didn't play Div. I golf was Hal Sutton, who played at a small private school in Louisiana that was either Div II or III.

 

 

[NCGolfer]

1 hour ago, RandyBobbitt said:

I'm guessing that Div I players mostly aspire to be tour pros, while Div II players are there for the love of competition and have more realistic goals; they know they're not going to make it to the tour. The only big-name American pro I can think of who didn't play Div. I golf was Hal Sutton, who played at a small private school in Louisiana that was either Div II or III.

Lee Janzen won the D2 individual national championship in 1986.

[Bucki1968]

There are a lot of great D2 programs especially down here in the south. I think great golf programs are a little easier to establish because you don't need as many student/athletes to fill the team. Many of the D2 schools here in Florida (Florida Southern, Stetson, North Florida, Weber, etc.) regularly beat the Division programs from around the country.

[Groucho Valentine]

In terms of players and talent? Probably not very much. The top D1 programs may have a blue chipper or two on the team that separates them. But you probably couldn't tell the difference between a rank and file D1 team vs a D2 one. You still have to be very very good to play on either level. 

[RandyBobbitt]

Forgot all about Lee Janzen playing at Florida Southern in Lakeland (Div II). I lived nearby (Tampa) at the time and I should have remembered. I believe Rocco Mediate and Marco Dawson were at Florida Southern at about the same time as Janzen. I don't believe Dawson ever won on the regular tour but has won a few times on the Champions Tour.