EXEMPTIONS & QUALIFYING

Eligible Amateurs

The Scratch Players Championship (SPC) is primarily an exempt player event for amateur golfers ranked among the top 500 worldwide.

Non-exempt amateurs with a USGA Handicap Index of +0.1 or less are eligible to qualify for the SPC (see Qualifying details below).

           note - the average player start field Handicap Index every year since 02 has been +2.00 or better with no player in any such field without a plus Index

No player in the history of the event has ever survived to the final round without a plus Index (or international equivalent)

Any amateur who meets one or more of the following categories is exempt from qualifying for the ’09 SPC:

 (points/ranking exemptions at receipt of entry or entry deadline, whichever is better):

notice - any collegiate player with any current collegiate ranking of 1000

or worse trumps all exemptions.  In other words, if ones current collegiate ranking

is 1000 or worse, they are not eligible for any exemptions from qualifying.

  ► Prior Finish in the Scratch Players Championship (top 5 in '07, top 2 in ’06, ’05 Champion)
      Rick Kulacz      Mu Hu      Rob Grube      Chadd Cocco      Michael Jensen      Lucas Lee      Sihwan Kim      Estanislao Goya      Franklin Corpening      Victor Dubuisson

      Rhys Davies      Oliver Fisher      Bronson LaCassie      Daniel Im      Jonathan Moore      Andres Gonzales      Seung Su Han      Spencer Levin      Andrew Dresser

                   (those in gray are known to have turned pro as of July of 08)

  ► Prior Finish in the Scratch Players Mid-Amateur (top 4 in '09 & 08, top 2 in ’07)

      Jeremy DeFalco      Danny Green

Amateur Ranking & Distinction Exemptions  click any linked text below for more detail

► Top 300 on Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking at time of entry

► Member of a Walker Cup and/or Top 5 World Amateur Team since 2003 

► anyone exempt for the 09 US Amateur

notice - exemption categories have been significantly reduced & simplified as the world amateur ranking covers all possible events of any significance anywhere in the world.  That means collegiate golf anywhere in any possible division or any other possible medium one could play at any age.  The only possible exception is for juniors which is why that exemption criteria remains.  For any being alive not meeting stipulated exemption criteria, they must either submit a request for an exemption or enter to qualify if eligible.

Junior Ranking & Distinction Exemptions   click any linked text below for more detail

► AJGA 08 First Team All-Americans 

► Top 10 on Golfweek Boys, Rolex Junior or Junior Scoreboard Ranking (at time of entry)

Other

► Tournament Committee Merit Exemptions  (for other "scratch players of note")

a) get completed hardcopy SPC qualifier entry form & $30 entry payment delivered by the entry deadline

b) qualify for the 09 US Amateur which also qualifies for SPC

c) send in entry fee balance due by 8/9/09 if qualify

This method of qualifying significantly reduces the cost and time committed to conducting independent qualifying & facilitates player convenience by providing a way to "kill two birds with one stone" with their limited time & resources. 

No golf entity worldwide has more experience in conducting tournament qualifying than the USGA & affiliated GA’s and utilizing this means of qualifying enables any eligible player in the USA the opportunity to conveniently qualify for the SPC close to home.

Qualifying Detail

You are not eligible to qualify unless you have a credible Handicap Index of +0.1 or better – no exceptions.

 note – no player without a plus Index (or international equivalent) has survived to the final round of any SPC

All incomplete SPC qualifier entries are not accepted.  All accepted SPC qualifier entries are website posted off the “Contestants & Times” page no later than the date of receipt or one week prior to the entry deadline, whichever is later.  If your qualifier entry is not posted by 7/9/09, it was not received or not accepted.  Qualifier entry fees ($30) become non-refundable after the entry deadline whether such qualifier entered the US Amateur timely or not.

Non-exempt entrants seeking to qualify for the SPC shall be entered to qualify for the '08 US Amateur with about 100 qualifying sites nationwide from about 7/20 to 8/9.  Five maximum SPC qualifying spots are available if qualify for the 09 US Amateur at the Southern Hills on August 22-30 (see detail below).

A maximum of 5 spots in the SPC are available via US Amateur qualifying based on the SPC qualifier entrant's performance in such US Amateur qualifying.  All such Amateur qualifiers who have timely entered to qualify for the SPC must qualify for the US Amateur to remain eligible to qualify for the SPC.  In the event more than 5 SPC US Amateur qualifiers make the US Amateur championship field, first in are all such US Amateur qualifying medalists, then the balance of the 5 total spots are determined by finish position as a percentage of such qualifying fields including ties.  (As an example, an applicable SPC qualifier who finishes third in a start field of 86 players would have a priority position over another such qualifier at another site who finished third in a start field of 77 players.)  If no more than 5 SPC US Amateur qualifiers actually qualify for the US Amateur field, all such qualifiers make the SPC field.  If less than 5 SPC qualifiers actually qualify for the US Am, only those who qualify make the SPC field with the balance of the allocated spots going first to exempt SPC entrants who may be on a waiting list.  SPC qualifier entrants who qualify for the US Amateur but did not finish in the top 5 of all SPC qualifier entrants will be treated as exempt entrants on the waiting list.

note – US Amateur entry deadline is around June 27th (the SPC is not affiliated with, or endorsed by the USGA or US Amateur)

SPC qualifiers must submit a SPC entry that it is received at the San Francisco address by the July 16th deadline without exception.  In other words, you can not play in US Amateur qualifying first, then enter the SPC after the fact claiming you met the qualifying standard.  It does not matter that you would have qualified based on any year(s) performance.  It only matters how one does in any applicable qualifying venue after a SPC qualifier’s entry is received.  Furthermore, you must designate the specific location of your US Amateur qualifying site (preferably the city and not the course).  If the SPC receives a qualifier entry without the location of such player’s designated US Amateur qualifying site, such entry will not be accepted – no exceptions.  The SPC Tournament Committee is no longer going to engage in any time consuming activity to perfect your qualifying entry nor are we going to search the results of all 100 US Amateur qualifying site results nationwide to determine if you made it (in other words, don’t assume we assume you are qualifying close to your home or college address)

Contact the SPC Tournament Chairman for any clarification on SPC qualifying.  If you do not seek such clarification, it is assumed that you fully understand all matters pertaining to SPC qualifying and any subsequent excuse for failure to comply is irrelevant.  Successful SPC qualifiers will be notified via email or phone immediately after qualifying to forward entry fee balance due by 8/9/08 ($30 to enter qualifying plus $195 more equals total entry fee of $225).  In the rare event of such qualifier had elected a US Amateur qualifying site conducted on or after 8/8, such qualifier will be required to express mail their entry fee balance due so as to be received by the SPC no later than 8/11.  Any SPC qualifier failing to pay their balance due by 8/11 or applicable date will be deemed to have withdrawn and their spot will be immediately filled from the exempt waiting list.

Alternates are, first, excess exempt entries received (after first 79) prior to the entry deadline, then players failing to qualify by one stroke and so on.  Alternate priority into the SPC will otherwise be determined based on the alternate's tournament track record.  The Tournament Committee (TC) decisions on SPC selections due to alternate ties are final.