123rd WPGA Amateur Championship
Conducted by the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association
Played for the William C. Fownes, Jr. Trophy
Monday - Tuesday, July 10 - July 11, 2023 • Hannastown Country Club • Greensburg, PA
Entries Close: Wednesday, May 3, at 5:00 PM
FORMAT: 18 holes of stroke play for qualifying rounds. 54 holes of stroke play for championship. The championship will be limited to 78 players. See schedule below.
ELIGIBILITY: Entries are open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 6.4 strokes as follows:
A. Amateur golfers that are affiliated with a WPGA Member Club as of May 1 and who have had a Handicap Index® issued by a WPGA Member Club for three (3) years, or
B. Amateur golfers residing within 50 miles of the WPGA's jurisdiction as of April 1 and who have a Handicap Index® issued by a WPGA Member Club with a minimum of five (5) rounds in the preceding twelve months posted at the WPGA club issuing the WPGA handicap index.
Players without a Handicap Index® issued by a club licensed by the WPGA will be directed to an existing WPGA Member Club or an Association-sponsored Type 3 Golf Club.
Contestants in doubt of their eligibility for the championship should contact the Association office.
SCHEDULE:
Preliminary Qualifying Rounds
A. May 17 - Sinking Valley Country Club, Altoona, PA
B. May 18 - Hickory Heights Golf Club, Bridgeville, PA
B. May 22 - Lawrence Park Golf Club, Erie, PA
C. June 8 - Latrobe Elks Golf Club, Latrobe, PA
CONTESTANTS MAY ENTER ONE QUALIFYING ROUND ONLY.
Championship at Hannastown Golf Club
A. Monday, July 10 – 36 holes of stroke play. Field cut to 32 plus ties following Round Two.
B. Tuesday, July 11 – 18 holes of stroke play.
2022 Amateur Exemptions
2013-2022 WPGA Amateur champions
2022 WPGA Men’s, Senior & Junior Players of the Year
2020-2022 WPGA Mid-Amateur champions
2018-2022 Pennsylvania Amateur champions
2020-2022 Pennsylvania Middle-Amateur champions
2021-2022 WPGA Junior champions
2022 C.R. Miller Champion
2021-2022 WPGA Senior Amateur Champion
2022 Jamison Cup Medalist
2023 WPGA Spring Stroke Play - Top 3
2022 Erie District GA Amateur Stroke Play Champion
2022 WPGA Amateur - Top 10 & ties
2022 Pennsylvania Amateur - Top 10 & ties
2022 WPGA Mid-Amateur - Top 3 & ties
2022 Low amateur, West Penn Open, and any amateur in Top 10
2022 WPGA Honor Roll - Top 5
2023 U.S. Open local qualifiers
2022 USGA Championship match play qualifiers
2022 WPGA Palmer Cup team members (non-senior)
2021-2022 Frank Fuhrer III Collegiate Player of the Year
2022 Hannastown Golf Club Men’s Club Champion
Special exemptions as selected by the WPGA Championship Committee.
Exempt: Paul Ajak III, Tom Ballinger, Ian Bangor, David Brown, Arnie Cutrell, Amani Dambrosio Jimmy Ellis, Kevin Fajt, Justin Griffith, Ben Huber, Palmer Jackson, Tanner Johnson, Daniel Joseph, Trent Karlik, Sean Knapp, Darin Kowalski, Austin Lemieux, Jimmy Meyers, Aidan Oehrle, Brady Pevarnik, Nathan Piatt, Jack Ramsett, Rocco Salvitti, Garrett Schlick, Adam Scuilli, Neal Shipley, Clay Spangler, Chris Tanabe, Dan Thompson, Nicholas Turowski, Jeff Varga, Wes Warden, Will Wears, Mike Wolfe, Brett Young
FUTURE EXEMPTIONS:
Champion - Next ten WPGA Amateur Champions
Top 10 & ties - 2024 WPGA Amateur Championship
Champion - Next four WPGA Open Championships
Top 3 & Ties - 2024 WPGA Open Championship.
ENTRIES (Form, Fee, Closing Date): Entry and fee of $140.00 must be submitted to the Association by 5:00 P.M. EST, by Wednesday, May 3, 2023, to be considered. Entry fee includes greens fee, cart fees, range fee, locker fee, prizes, trophies, and lunch. Late entries are accepted for an additional fee of $50 up until the publication of Groupings & Starting Times, or if players are needed to fill open groupings at the discretion of the WPGA.
Online registration – Players must enter online on the WPGA website. Players must have a valid e-mail address and a WPGA account to register online. Player accounts can be created on the WPGA Player Registration Portal, by contacting the WPGA office at 412-826-2180, or by email. Online entries may be paid by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card. American Express is not accepted.
Entry fee will be refunded with a $15.00 service charge for withdrawals before the close of entries. Withdrawals after the close of entries will be subject to a $25.00 service charge. No refunds will be issued for withdraws taking place 48 hours prior to the first tee time.
PRIZES: A trophy will be awarded to the winning player and runner-up. Prizes will be awarded to the top players and ties. The Amateur Championship is a WPGA Honor Roll and Palmer Cup Team points event. Prizes will consist of credits in the host club’s golf shop.
REGULATIONS AND INFORMATION:
A. Walking is required for the championship. Players may bring their own caddies. Caddies must walk in performance of their duties. Push carts are permitted for the competition, so long as they are not motorized or battery powered.
B. It is a condition of competition that shoes with traditionally designed spikes, regardless of composition, or spikes comprised either entirely or partially of metal, regardless of design, are prohibited during the championship.
C. Play will be governed by the USGA Rules of Golf, conditions stated on the WPGA Rules of Play card, and other Local Rules as posted.
D. Proper attire is mandatory in all phases of the championship. Shirts with collars and sleeves are required. Shorts of Bermuda length or longer are acceptable.
E. A tie for first place shall be decided immediately upon completion of play with a hole-by-hole playoff.
F. Players falsifying a Handicap Index may be subject to indefinite suspension from WPGA Championships.
G. Starting times and other information will be available on the WPGA website approximately one week before the championship. players unable to retrieve starting times should call the WPGA office (412-826-2180).
NOTICE:
By submission of this entry, I agree to the following:
I have read and understand the entry requirements and championship regulations.
I agree that there are certain risks inherent in golf and accept personal and sole liability for such risks including but not limited to health risks.
This entry is subject to rejection at any time (including during the Championship) by the WPGA. The reason may include unbecoming conduct. The WPGA may reject an entry application, revoke an accepted application, expel from a Championship and/or suspend a player from future championships if the player engages in conduct detrimental to the integrity and image of the game of golf and/or public confidence in the WPGA. Such conduct may include but is not limited to, damage to the golf course or the players’ equipment, verbal or physical abuse of spectators, officials, volunteers or staff, blatant and excessive profanity, disorderly behavior, failure to abide by club/course rules or any other unbecoming conduct.
Responsibility for ensuring entry is received by the WPGA prior to the specified deadline is mine alone and that this application may be automatically rejected by the WPGA if received by after such date and time.
Risk of delay or error in transmission is solely with me and that the WPGA has no liability with respect to any such delay or error and the consequences therefrom, including the entry not being accepted.
Any player under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian agree to the WPGA terms and conditions for minors before their application will be accepted. Parental consent can be done by checking the appropriate box during online registration. If you need additional information, please contact the Association office (412-826-2180).
