The Intermountain Conference boys and girls golf championships — which qualify teams and individuals for the 5A state tournament — will feature major changes this season.

Previously the slots in the state championships came down to a two-day, 36-hole tournament. Now there is a new point system to determine the individual conference champions and which teams move on to state.

“We wanted every time we played against each other to mean something instead of just playing and posting the scores,” said Summit boys golf coach Andy Heinly. “Every IMC event this season counted.”

Throughout the season in six IMC tournaments, team scores included 10 points for the winner, eight points for second place, six for third and so on. Individual points featured a similar format, with 30 points to the winner, 25 for second place, 20 for third, and so on. At the IMC championships, points will be worth double.

On Monday the boys IMC championships will be held at Widgi Creek Golf Club in Bend and the girls championships will be held at Crooked River Ranch Golf Course.

The Summit boys, who are chasing their fourth state title in a row and seventh since 2015, have already clinched the IMC’s automatic team bid for the 5A state championships at OGA Golf Course in Woodburn May 19-20.

The change in the format makes for a little less stressful district tournament now that everything doesn’t come down to the district championships, at least for the teams and golfers who have already qualified.

“We’ve already done what we have needed to do to get into state,” said Summit junior Bryce Grieb, who won the IMC tournament a year ago as a sophomore. “We just want to go out and see what we can do and have some fun.

“But it doesn’t really change much,” Grieb continued. “Of course I am going into the tournament and playing the best that I can. I’m not thinking any differently because we’ve already won and qualified for state. But it is a little more relaxing.”

There are still multiple ways to qualify for state outside of being on the qualifying team during the season. The top-two point scorers not on the qualifying teams will qualify for state as well.

Then there are the at-large regional tournaments on May 12 at locations to be determined. The second, third and fourth-place teams from the Northwest Oregon Conference and the IMC will compete at the at-large regional tournaments. Two of the six teams will qualify for state and five individuals not on the qualifying team will advance.