ABOUT THE SANI TOURNAMENT
This tournament has a history of great golf from a field of excellent professionals and amateurs. Equally important to the tournament is that college bound students have been recipients of Sani Scholarships each year. This year four scholars will be honored with the prestigious $8,000 Herman Sani Scholarship at the annual banquet on Thursday evening. You are encouraged to attend the banquet. Please read all of the information below prior to submitting your application to play.
AMATEUR ELIGIBILITY: Amateur entries must be an active IGA Member. Individual members are tracked through their enrollment at an IGA Member Club (via GHIN). Entries must be male amateur golfers as defined by the USGA rules. Senior Division entrants must have reached age 50 by August 8, 2025. Super Senior Division format of play will be the same as the “Senior Division”. Players will be paired within their division from their own set of tees. Super Senior golfers must meet all requirements on this entry application, including eligibility requirements listed above. Players must also have reached their 65th birthday on or before August 8, 2025.
PROFESSIONAL ELIGIBILITY: Must be either:
1. A member of the Iowa Section PGA in good standing
2. A Professional (PGA or otherwise) working at a golf club in Iowa
3. A professional golfer with significant ties to Iowa (such as played college golf in Iowa or grew up in Iowa and now lives elsewhere)
FIELD: The field will be limited to the first 148 players.
WAITLIST POLICY: IGA Championship field sizes will be set to eight players less than a full field size (ex: Herman Sani Tournament field of 156 players will be set to 148 players). At entry close, the IGA will allocate the five remaining spots as exemptions to qualified players deserving of being in the final field, no matter their position on the waitlist. Generally, this will mean players that have historically supported this event or have a history of high finishes at IGA Championships. For players who need to withdraw before the entry deadline but after a waitlist has been created, their spot will be given in the order of first come first serve from the waitlist. The waitlist will be published on the event portal website as soon as it is created.
Preferred entry will be made available from March 3rd-March 31st to individuals who meet the criteria outlined below. Following that period, entries will open on April 1st to all eligible IGA members.
Preferred Entry Criteria
1. All former Herman Sani Champions
2. Low Amateurs since 2004
3. Top 25 & Ties in 2024 Herman Sani (Open Division)
4. Top 15 & Ties in 2024 IGA Player of the Year Standings (Open Division)
5. All former IGA Player of the Year winners (Open Division)
6. 2024 IGA Junior Amateur Champion
7. 2023-2024 USGA Qualifiers
8. Top 10 Finishers in 2024 Iowa Open (Professional Division from/with Iowa Ties)
9. Match Play qualifier in 2024 IGA Match Play (Senior and Super Senior Players
10. Top 15 & ties in 2024 Herman Sani (Senior Division)
11. Quarterfinalist in 2024 IGA Senior Match Play (Senior and Super Senior)
12. Top 10 & ties in 2024 IGA Senior Player of the Year
13. All former IGA Senior Player of the Year winners
14. Top 15 & ties in 2024 Iowa Senior Amateur (Senior Division)
15. Top 5 & ties in 2024 Herman Sani Tournament (Super Senior Division)
16. Top 10 & ties in 2024 IGA Super Senior Player of the Year standings
17. All former IGA Super Senior Player of the Year winners
PAIRINGS, TEE TIMES: Pairings will be emailed from the IGA office after the entry deadline. Pairing info will NOT be sent via standard mail to those who do not provide an email address. Pairings will be made available on the IGA website, iowagolf.org. Play will be conducted from the 1st & 10th tees Friday & Saturday with times ranging from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 and at 12:15 p.m.- 2:15. Field will be paired at random within your division for the first two days playing in groups of 3. Sunday pairings will be in groups of 3 and will be paired by score.
PRACTICE PRIVILEGES: Practice rounds and availability will be at the discretion of the host club and are limited to tournament participants only.
WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS: Entry fees will be refunded if the IGA office is notified on or before July 28, 2025. After July 28, fees will be refunded only in the event of injury or illness. There will be a $20.00 service charge on all refunds.
ACCEPTANCE OF PLACES; NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL: If a player has entered and subsequently decides not to compete, he must notify the IGA office promptly. Failure to comply may disqualify a player from future IGA conducted competitions.
ENTRIES — FORM, FEE, CLOSING DATE: Entrants are solely responsible for securing fees by the due date. Entries must reach the IGA office by 11:59 PM, July 28 and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. You must enter online using a credit card at iowagolf.org up to the deadline or until a field limit is met, whichever comes first. Late, unsigned or incomplete applications are not acceptable and will be returned. There will be no exceptions!
ENTRY FEES:
Amateur - $200
Iowa Section PGA or Neb. Section PGA working in Iowa - $250
Other professionals - $300
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS- 156 players
Friday, Aug 8 – 1st Round, 18 holes - play in groups of 3
Saturday, Aug 9 – 2nd Round, 18 holes - play in groups of 3
36 HOLE CUT — Cut breakdown will be determined after entries have closed.
Sunday, Aug 10 – Final Round, 18 holes - play in groups of 3
CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES: The IGA reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein as needed. This may include but is not limited to, suspending play to a following day, or canceling current or future rounds. The decision of the Rules and Competitions Committee in any matter shall be final. Under any circumstances, all possible attempts will be made to complete the event in the scheduled number of rounds.
GOLF BALLS; DRIVER HEADS
Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls and driver heads on the most current USGA List of Conforming Driver Heads may be used. Updated lists may be found on the USGA website at www.usga.org or by contacting the USGA Equipment Standards Department at (908) 234-2300.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: Proper golf attire is mandatory; the committee reserves the right to determine whether this requirement is met.
PACE OF PLAY: Under Rule 5.6b(3) the IGA has adopted pace of play guidelines that include the maximum period of time allotted to complete a stipulated round, number of holes and/or strokes. These guidelines and the resulting penalties will be made available to every competitor in advance of the championship.
RULES OF GOLF: Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf. Local rules on scorecards do not apply. Decisions concerning the rules will be settled by the Rules Committee assigned by the IGA and those decisions will be final.