State Amateur Match Play Championship
June 11 - 14, 2019
Superstition Mountain Golf Club
Prospector Course
8000 East Club Village Drive
Superstition Mountain, AZ 85118
(480) 983-1411
OPENING DATE: April 29, 2019 CLOSING DATE: May 31, 2019
The competition shall be match play within flights. The field size will be a maximum of 96 players. If byes are necessary, the top seeded participant in the flight (beginning with the last flight) will receive a bye.
NEW for 2019 - there will be three separate divisions of the Championship - an Open Division, a Senior Division and a Team Division. (Those entrants 50 years of age and older who desire to play in the Senior Division must indicate so). Anyone who does not select the Senior Division will play in the Open Division. All Division selections are final five (5) business days prior to the first day of the tournament. Based on the overall combination of entries, total players in each division may be limited to multiples of 8.
The competition will be individual match play within flights or two-person teams playing Four-Ball match play within flights, depending on the Division selected. The field will be limited to a maximum of 96 players. If byes are necessary, the top seeded participant in the flights of the individual division (begining with the last flight) or teams in the team division, will receive a bye.
A Championship flight will be determined in each Division based on an 18-hole stroke play qualifying round. Those not vying for either one of the Championship flights will not have to play on Tuesday, June 11 but may use the qualifying date (Tuesday, June 11) as a practice round.
The 16 lowest handicap index (and ties) entrants in the Open Division and the 16 lowest handicap index (and ties) entrants in the Senior Division shall be required to play in the qualifying round. In addition, any player within seven full index points of the 16th player in the Open Division, may opt into the qualifying round. After the qualifying round those with the low 16 scores in the Open Division shall enter the Championship flight for the Open Division and those with the low 16 scores in the Senior Division shall enter the Senior Championship flight. The remainder of the field (including those who do not qualify for their respective Championship flights) will be grouped in flights of eight. Composition and seeding of these flights shall be determined by Handicap Index - without designation of Open or Senior Division.
For the qualifying rounds, ties for last place or places in the Championship Flights shall be decided by a hole-by-hole play-off. All other seeding ties will be determined by blind draw. For the purpose of settling a tie in match play, the stipulated round shall be extended to as many holes as are required for the match to be won.
The Open Division Championship flight qualifying round and its subsequent matches will be played from a longer set of tees. Those not qualifying in the low 16 after the qualifying round of the Open Division will go into the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, etc. flight and will play the balance of the tournament from a shorter set of tees. The Senior Division Championship flight may also play from a longer set of tees than the remainder of the field.
There shall be a consolation flight for players not advancing from the first round of Match Play (as well as for those not advancing in the second round for the Open Division low 16).
Eligibility: The tournament is open to female amateur golfers who have a handicap index of 36.0 or lower, and are AGA members in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the first day of the tournament. An amateur golfer who is not a member of the AGA may enter a tournament for an additional fee of $50 only if the field is not full. This fee applies to each tournament entered. Participants must be 14 years old or older; if between the ages of 14 and 17, a handicap index of 12.0 or less is required.
Handicap allowances for matches:
Open Championship and Senior Championship Flights (and all their respective Consolation flight matches) will play at scratch - no strokes awarded. All other flights/matches will be played with strokes - the higher-handicapped player will receive the full difference in Course Handicap between the two players; the lower-handicapped player will play at scratch.
Handicap: Revision used for event: 6/1/19
Start Times: Play will begin with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. each day.
Entry fee of $220.00 per player (or $440 per team) will include green fees for four rounds of golf, cart fees, range balls, tee prizes and awards. There will be a lunch following play on Thursday.
Transportation: Motorized carts are included in the fees but players may walk.
Caddies and Spectators: Caddies and spectators will be allowed in the 2019 Match Play Championship.
Practice Rounds will be available to tournament players only. Practice rounds can be scheduled 7 days in advance of the event by calling for a tee time. Play will be available Monday through Friday after 9 a.m. or Saturday and Sunday after 10 a.m. The practice round rate is $45 per player (including cart) and may be scheduled by calling (480) 983-1411.
Registration: Players are expected to check in at the starting tee 10 minutes before their tee time.
Lodging: Players are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements.
Choice Hotels:
Remember AGA members save 15% when booking and staying at any Choice Hotel. To receive that discount, call (877) 240-AWAY (2929) or visit choicesportstravel.com and click on “Enter Special Rate ID.” Simply provide your AGA discount code #00216170 when making your reservations.
State Amateur Match Play Championship:
La Quinta Inn and Suites Mesa Superstition Springs
6530 E. Superstition Springs Blvd.
Mesa, AZ 85206
(480) 654-1970
Rate: $79 to $149, based on availability
Gold Canyon Golf Resort & Spa
6100 S. Kings Ranch Road
Gold Canyon, AZ 85218
(480) 982-9090
Rate: $109 to $239, based on availability
Cancellations: All cancellation and refund policies in the online 2019 Conditions of Competition for Women’s Events on the web site apply. Requests for refunds will be handled as follows:
1. Withdraw prior to closing date – entry fee refunded, minus $15 administrative fee charged to each player who cancels or withdraws after the entry has been submitted. A request for refund must be made in writing or by email before the start of the tournament. Refund requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
2. Withdraw after closing date (two weeks prior to event) – half of entry fee may be considered for refund, if due to family emergency, family death or medical emergency (must have documentation from a physician.)
3. Withdraw within five days of event – no refund will be considered within five days of the event.
Cancellations must be made in writing by email to Le Ann Finger, Director of Tournaments and Player Development. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE GOLF COURSE TO WITHDRAW.
Exemptions into tournaments shall be granted up to the closing date. Exemptions apply only to the criteria which determine how the field is set (e.g., handicap indexes, points). All past AWGA board members who have fulfilled their term of office will be exempt for the number of years served. All current board members who have served at least one year will be exempt. A two-year exemption will be granted for the champion.
Entry acceptance into the Tournament, if oversold, is based on the criteria stated in Section 4 of the Conditions of Competition listed on the AGA website. Registration does not guarantee acceptance. Acceptance letters will follow two weeks prior to the event, once the registration closes.
Determining Ties: Ties for the title of Champion are decided by a hole-by-hole playoff. All other ties are decided using the recommended USGA tie-breaking procedure of Matching Scorecards (also known as Scorecard Count-Back) as referenced in Section 5A(6) of the Committee Procedures, Rules of Golf.
Prizes
1) Perpetual trophies are awarded to the Champions in the Open, Senior and Team Divisions.
2) Prizes shall be awarded to the winner and runner up in each flight. Prizes shall be awarded to the winner of each of the Consolation Flights. No one may win one of these prizes without first winning a match.
3) There shall be an award for the Open Division Medalist, Senior Division Medalist and Team Division Medalists of the qualifying rounds.