MGA Senior Players' Championship

MGA Championship

Deacon's Lodge | Breezy Point, MN
June 10-12, 2024

Tournament Information

Registration Status: Closed

Entry Fees:

Qualifying: $110 (walking; you will pay for your cart at the qualifying site if you wish to use one)
Successful Qualifiers: $125 (walking)
Exempt Players: $235 (walking)

Golf Carts
The use of a golf cart is permitted for this event at both the Qualifying and Championship events. However, players attempting to qualify for the Senior Players' and either the Players' or Mid-Players' championships in the same qualifying event will not be permitted to use a cart since the other events are walking only. Carts at the qualifying sites are paid on-site the day of the event.

Carts at the Championship are $65 for Pool Play and should be paid by paying the electronic invoice that will be sent to all exempt players and successful qualifiers prior to the Championship proper. There will not be a charge to use a cart during the three championship rounds of match play.

Eligibility:

Entry is open to any amateur golfer:
(1) Who is an MGA Associate Member,
(2) Who is at least 55 years of age as of the first day of the Championship,
(3) Who has an active Minnesota Handicap Index® that does not exceed 7.4 at the time of entry, and
(4) 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

This event is a counting event for the WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) System.

Format - Sectional Qualifying:
A contestant may enter only once and attempt to qualify only one day, at one site, for this championship. However, a player may enter multiple Players' championships (Players', Mid-Players', Senior Players') and attempt to qualify at the same site for each respective Players' championship by having the one round count for all qualifying events.

Sectional Qualifying for all three Players' events  (Players', Mid-Players', Senior Players') are conducted concurrently at each site. Sectional Qualifying events are limited to a maximum of 84 players over the three divisions. Space may be limited by division.

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

Players entered in the Championship, except exempt players, will play 18 holes of stroke play in Sectional Qualifying. The number of available qualifying spots at each site will be determined once entries close and will be posted on the Championship website. Any ties for qualifying spots or alternate spots at each site will be played off immediately, hole by hole, until the final qualifiers and alternates are determined.

NOTE: If someone enters the Players' and Senior Players' Qualifying, all Senior Players will play from the Players' Qualifying set of tees.

Format - Championship:
The Championship is a 32-player match play event that uses a "Pool Play" concept for the first three rounds. The field will be divided into eight 4-player pools that play a round-robin format (everyone plays each other during the first three rounds). The player with the best record will advance to the Quarterfinals. If there is a tie within the pool, there will be a playoff on the course immediately after both matches conclude in the third round.

Once Quarterfinal play begins, the format changes to a single elimination event.

Seeding:
The seeding of Exempt Players will follow the policy outlined on the Exempt Player List.

The seeding of Qualifying Players will be as follows:
(1) Medalists: Medalists will be seeded immediately following the Exempt Players and will be ranked based on their Differential (Qualifying Score - Course Rating). If players from different qualifying sites are tied, the player who played the course with the higher course rating will be given the better seed.
(2) Qualifiers: Remaining qualifiers will be seeded based on their Differential.

Withdrawls:
In the event a player withdraws, the spot will be filled as follows:
(1) Exempt Player: The field below the withdrawing Exempt player will be shifted "up" with the open spot filled by the highest ranking alternate from the Overall Alternate List. That person will be added into the field at the position determined by their Differential.
(2) Qualifying Player: The highest ranking alternate from the withdrawing player's Qualifying Site (if available) will fill the spot. In the event an alternate is not available from the withdrawing player's Qualifying Site, the spot will revert to the highest ranking player on the Overall Alternate List.  The player will be added at the position determined by their Differential.

This event is a counting event for the WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) System.

Schedule:
Monday, June 10 - AM: Rd 1 Starting times begin 7:30
- PM: Rd 2 Starting times begin 12:30
Tuesday, June 11 - AM: Rd 3 Starting times begin 7:30
- PM: Quarterfinal Matches begin 12:30
Wednesday, June 12 - AM: Semifinal Matches 7:30-7:40
- PM: Championship Match 12:30

Practice Rounds:
Practice rounds will be available on a space available basis. Please contact the Deacon's Lodge Golf Shop (218/562-6262) and identify yourself as an MGA Mid-Players' contestant to schedule a practice round. The fee may be dependent upon the day and time you play.

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

Food & Beverages:
Food will provided throughout your time at the Championship site. During Pool Play on Days 1&2, a continental breakfast may be available prior to play and there will be a lunch available immediately following your match. On Day 2, there will be food available after the matches for those players who made it to the Quarterfinals. On Day 3, food is available after each match.

Accommodations:
Breezy Point Resort has limited space available for the Championship. To make a reservation, call their toll-free Reservations line: 800/432-3777.