Exemption Criteria
106th Open Championship Presented by Donnelly Industries
July 21-23, 2026

 

The following are exempt from qualifying for the 106th Open Championship, provided
they submit their entry prior to the closing date and meet all eligibility criteria:

 

Entry Fee: $185.00 – Amateur; $260.00 – Professional
Entries Close: Wednesday, May 20 @ 5pm
Late entries are not accepted.

 

  1. Champions of the NJ Open Championship from 1921‐2007.*
  2. Champions of the previous ten NJ Open Championships (2016‐2025). *
  3. The NJ Amateur Champion from 2017‐2026.
  4. The NJPGA Section Champion from 2016‐2025.
  5. Low 20 finishers (plus ties) from the 2025 NJ Open Championship.
  6. The 2025 Champion of the NJ Senior Amateur Championship.
  7. The 2025 Champion of the NJ Junior Championship.
  8. The 2025 Champion of the NJ Women’s Open Championship. (If Eligible)
  9. The 2025 Champion of the NJ Women’s Amateur Championship.
  10. The 2025 Champion of the MGA Amateur (If Eligible).
  11. The 2025 Champion of the MGA Open Championship. (If Eligible)
  12. The 2025 Champion of the GAP Patterson Cup (If Eligible).
  13. The 2026 Champion of the NJ Junior Championship.
  14. The 2026 Champion of the NJ Mid-Amateur Championship.
  15. The 2026 Champion of the NJ Senior Open Championship.
  16. The 2026 Champion of the NJPGA Match Play Championship.
  17. The 2026 Champion of the NJPGA Charity Clambake.
  18. The 2026 Champion of the NJPGA Head Pro Championship.
  19. The 2026 Champion of the MGA Ike (Stroke Play) Championship. (If Eligible)
  20. The 2026 Champion of the GAP Amateur (Match Play) Championship. (If Eligible)
  21. The 2026 Champion of the GAP Open Championship. (If Eligible)
  22. NJ member club professionals who qualify for the 2026 National Club Professionals Championship via their finish in their respective 2025 PGA Section Championship.
  23. The top five players from the 2025 NJ Robert Housen Player of the Year Points List.
  24. Philadelphia PGA Section Professionals who are employed full time as a golf professional in the State of New Jersey that finished in the top twenty (20) of the final 2025 Philadelphia Section Player of the Year Points List.
  25. The top thirty-two (32) professionals from the 2025 NJPGA Rolex Player of the Year Points List.
  26. The 2025 NJPGA Assistant Player of the Year.
  27. The host Head Golf Professional of Morris County or the club’s designee.
  28. The reigning Club Champion, who’s a member in good standing of Morris County, or the club’s designee.
  29. Special Invitee of the NJ Tournament Committee.

 

* ‐ Beginning with the 2008 Open Championship, the Champion was granted a ten-year exemption from qualifying. This replaces the former lifetime exemption granted to Champions between 1900 – 2007. All Champions during this time period retain their lifetime exemption status, as per conditions present during those years. Please contact NJ Golf for further details.

 

AMATEURS' ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
Entries open to amateur golfers who meet ALL of the following:

  • Entrant must possess UNQUESTIONABLE Amateur Status.
  • Entrant meet ALL of these Handicap and Membership Requirements:
  • Hold a USGA Handicap Index of 5.0 or less, from a men's rating, as of the close of entries, at a member club/course. They must be listed on this club’s Handicap Roster.
  • Maintain good standing and remain on the above Handicap Roster through the Championship proper.
  • If entering from a public facility, or Club Without Real Estate, entrant must be a permanent resident of New Jersey. Proof of residency may be required.

 

PROFESSIONALS' ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
Entries open to professional golfers who meet one of the following, subject to verification:

  1. Class A (except A-3) and Class B Professionals, Assistant Professionals, Apprentices, Life Members, and Master Professionals who are members in good standing of the New Jersey Section of the PGA. Membership will be verified by the NJPGA Office.
  2. Class A (except A-3) and Class B Professionals, Assistant Professionals, and Apprentices who are members in good standing of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA who are employed full-time as such in the State of New Jersey. Membership will be verified with the PGA Office.
  3. All full time Golf Professionals who are employed on a FULL TIME BASIS at a member club or course. Employment will be verified by the Tournament Committee.*

*- Under clause 3 (above), a Golf Professional is defined as one who performs duties including teaching, club repair, merchandising, tournament/handicap administration, etc. for 40 hours per week at a specific golf facility. The duties of a Caddie Master, Outside operations and Caddies are not included in the above. Each entrant´s employment status will be verified. Please consult the Tournament Committee for further clarification.

**- Please note that non-PGA member Professional entrants will be required to provide proof of employment (as defined by the above) at a member club. Such proof may include a letter of certification from a club official, and/or record of compensation from that club.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT:
54-Holes, Stroke Play. Eighteen holes will be played on day 1 and day 2, after which the field will be cut to the low 40 scorers (plus ties). Remaining players will compete on day 3 over 18-Holes. The Champion will be the player with the lowest 54-Hole aggregate score. The Championship field will consist of 120 players, including those who are exempt from qualifying plus those who advance from four separate 18-Hole Qualifying Rounds (plus ties). An alternate list will be created (see seperate policy) and players will be contacted if a spot in the field becomes available.
 
Transportation: Motorized transportation is PROHIBITED throughout this Championship.
Caddies: Permitted; a player may bring their own caddie – or where available, reserve a club caddie.
Pull/Push Carts: Refer to specific Notice to Players for host club’s policy.

 

PRIZES:
The C.W. Badenhausen Championship Trophy will be presented to the Champion, engraved with their name, and displayed at their home club. Professionals' purse total is $100,000; champion's share is $20,000. Complete purse available on site. Merchandise certificates awarded to low five amateurs.

 

FINAL DECISION REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF ENTRIES IS AT THE DISCRETION OF NJ GOLF. THE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT OR WITHDRAW AN ENTRY AT ANY TIME, BEFORE OR DURING A COMPETITION OR MODIFY THE CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM ANYTIME, IN ITS DISCRETION. IF NJ GOLF DETERMINES, IN ITS REASONABLE DISCRETION, THAT AN ENTRANT DOES NOT MEET THE ELIGIBILTY REQUIREMENTS, THE ENTRANT MAY BE DISQUALIFIED, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER A CHAMPIONSHIP HAS BEEN PLAYED.