MGA Amateur Championship

MGA Championship

Madden's On Gull Lake - The Classic | Brainerd, MN
July 21-23, 2025

Tournament Information

Registration Status: Opens 8:30 am, March 3.

Entry Fees:

Qualifying: $110
Successful Qualifiers: $125
Exempt Players: $235

This is a WALKING ONLY event.

Eligibility:

Entry is open to any amateur golfer:
(1) Who is an MGA Associate Member,
(2) Who has an active Minnesota Handicap Index® that does not exceed 6.4 at the time of entry, and
(3) Whose Minnesota Handicap Index® is active effective the first day of competition for the player (qualifying or championship).

An entry may be rejected at the discretion of the Committee at any time, including after the competition has closed.

NOTE: For eligibility purposes, an MGA Associate Member through the MGA Join On-Line (JOL) program must have a Minnesota connection in addition to JOL membership in order to participate. Examples of connections would be a MN resident (permanent or seasonal), a non-resident student at a MN school, and/or an MGA course connection, validated by a course employee and/or score posting record. The Committee’s decision on such a connection and eligibility is final.

Additional Information

EXCITING NEWS!!!
Beginning this year, the winner of the MGA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP will be EXEMPT for the US AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP at Hazeltine!!!

Thus, the person who claims the 2024 MGA Amateur will earn a FULL exemption into the 2024 US Amateur, set for Hazeltine National Golf Club, August 12-18. This is true even if the person fails to qualify in the US Am qualifying at either the local or final level. (NOTE: This exemption cannot be deferred to another year nor is it transferable to another person should the champion already be exempt or have qualified.)

In addition, the 2024 Champion and the others in the Top 5 from 2024 also earn a LOCAL exemption in the 2025 qualifying process.

FORMAT
Sectional Qualifying:
A contestant may enter only once and attempt to qualify only one day, at one site, for this championship.

Players entered in the Championship, except exempt players, will play 18 holes of stroke play in a Qualifying round to earn a spot into the Minnesota Amateur Championship. Any ties for the final qualifying or alternate spots will be played off immediately, hole by hole, until the final qualifiers and alternates are determined.

The MGA reserves the right to cancel a Sectional Qualifying in the event no competition exists at the close of entries. In the unlikely event this occurs, any player entered will have the option of moving to any remaining Sectional Qualifying site with spots available or to withdraw and receive a full refund.

Championship:
The 156 players in the Championship field will play 18 holes of stroke play each of the first two days. A cut will be made to the 60 lowest scoring players, plus ties, who will then play an additional 18 holes on the final day.

The Champion will be the player having the lowest total score after 54 holes. In the event there is a tie for the Championship, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following play.

Schedule:
Monday, July 15 - Round 1: Starting times begin from #1/10 tees at 7:30 am and 12:30 pm
Tuesday, July 16 - Round 2: Starting times begin from #1/10 tees at 7:30 am and 12:30 pm
Wednesday, July 17 - Final Round: Starting times begin 8:00 am

Practice Rounds - Sectional Qualifying:
Practice rounds will be available. Contact the host facility and identify yourself as an MGA Amateur Qualifying contestant when scheduling a time. The fee may be based on the day and time you play.

Practice Rounds - Championship:
Practice rounds will be available at the discretion of Minnesota Valley Country Club. Contact the Minnesota Valley Golf Shop (952/884-1744) and identify yourself as an MGA Amateur contestant. The fee may be based on the day and time you play.

Driving Range:
Range balls will be provided prior to play each day. The range will open at least 60 minutes prior to play.

Push Carts:
Push carts are permitted for the Championship.

Food & Beverages:
An awards luncheon will be available on Wednesday to all players making the cut. There also will be fresh fruit and bottled beverages at #1/10 tees for players and caddies throughout the Championship. All other food and beverages are at the expense of the player. Water will be placed on the course at strategic locations for players and caddies.