The crunch will come when the driver who finds himself in the supporting role has to play second fiddle to the championship contender.

Such golf marked him down as a championship contender, one whose round of 68 took him to five under par, four strokes off what was then the lead.

Shepherd had been a solid, dependable finisher in the top series for most of his career and was a serious championship contender.

Despite the moderate success of team during these years, some alumni had grown accustomed to the programs' stature as a perennial national championship contender.

But that competition disappears if the main championship contenders are under one roof.