Class 3A schools will get their own state tournament for the first time this season.

"Instead of raising the ante and having 90 or 100 qualifiers (in Class 4A), we decided to have a 3A tournament," said Tom Robinson, assistant commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.

"There were maybe some complaints from 4A schools, who wanted more qualifiers because (that classification) had more schools; 3A schools were complaining that they couldn't get their own tournament."

Despite losing the 3A schools, Class 4A, which is made up of 70 schools with enrollments from 586 to 1,440, still will maintain a greater number of participants than 5A, which has 62 schools. Class 3A (with enrollments of 585 or fewer) has 71 schools. There also is quality among the quantity,including powerhouse Kent Denver, which won the past two 4A titles.

The classification change also means a 50 percent increase in the number of boys state qualifiers. All three levels will field 84 qualifiers each. Girls golf will stay with only 5A and 4A.

"The girls were pretty reasonable about knowing their numbers and sticking with just two tournaments," Robinson said.

* All three state tournaments will take place Oct. 6-7. The 5A tourney will be at the Air Force Academy's Eisenhower Golf Club, and 4A will take place in Elizabeth, at Spring Valley Golf Course. Craig will play host to the 3A event at Yampa Valley Golf Course.

Robinson said the Colorado Golf Association, which provides rules officials, scoring help and other assistance, believes it can handle the triple duty this season.

* The awarding of medals also will change at state and regional tournaments. In the past, some golfers finishing in the top 10 at state left for home empty-handed because of ties at their position.

CHSAA usually used a coin flip to determine who got the medal, promising to send along the same award to the others at that spot at a later date.

Now the medals will have a "Top Ten State Finalist" inscription. The tournament winner will get a unique medal. Ribbons awarded at the regional tournaments also will have a more generic "CHSAA State Golf Qualifier" notation.

* Brendan Connolly, of Rock Canyon, might be the dark horse candidate for 4A medalist. Connolly, only a sophomore, qualified as Colorado's entry in the Junior America's Cup this summer in Vancouver, Wash.

Another sophomore, John Ahern of D'Evelyn, also played in the Junior America's Cup, but he garnered a bit more attention at the start of last season.

Connolly tied for 10th at state last season with a two-day total of 151, and, with a solid summer behind him, that might be the beginning of good things to come.