Conditions of the Competition - Oregon Amateur

ELIGIBILITY

WOMEN: Entries are open to female amateur golfers with USGA Handicap Indexes™ of 15.0 or less. The field will be limited to the 48 entrants with the lowest USGA Handicap Indexes at the entry deadline. In the event that the Women’s Division does not reach its field limit, the remaining spots will be transferred to the Men’s Division.

MEN: Entries are open to amateur golfers with USGA Handicap Indexes™ of 5.0 or less. The final Championship field will include exempt players as well as those that advance from the additional 18-hole stroke play qualifying stages.

All contestants must be members in good standing of an OGA Member Club and be at least 13 years of age as of June 20, 2011.

EXEMPTIONS

WOMEN: All past Oregon Amateur Champions and the 2010 Junior Amateur Champion, Monica Vaughn.

MEN:  All past Oregon Amateur Champions; the 2010 Oregon Junior Amateur Champion, Marcus Potter;  the Top 50 golfers on the OGA Men’s Performance Points List and the top 5 golfers on the OGA Senior Men’s Performance Points list (Points Lists are published on www.oga.org); the 2010 USGA State Team – Jim Dunlap, Paul Peterson, Chad Sawyer; special exemptions* and winners of the past three years in the following championships:
•  OGA Tournament of Champions – Scott Larsen (2010),  Jim Dunlap (2009),  Jeff Gustafson (2008)
•  Oregon Mid-Amateur – Kasey Young (2010), Randy Mahar (2009),  Jeff Nielson (2008)
•  Oregon Public Links – Justin Kadin (2010), Chad Sawyer (2009, 2008)
•  Oregon Men’s Stroke Play – Paul Peterson (2010, 2009), Andrew Vijarro (2008)
•  Oregon Senior Amateur – Pat O’Donnell (2010, 2008), Erik Myrmo (2009)

*    The OGA Championship Committee reserves the right to award a position into the tournament proper to any player(s) who has performed exceptionally well in state, regional and/or national competitions who is otherwise qualified but not exempt.  Such awards will be made by invitation of the OGA Championship Committee at their discretion.

All exempt players must meet eligibility requirements and must file an entry by the deadline.

FORMAT

WOMEN: The low 32 finishers from the first two rounds of stroke play will advance to single elimination match play. 

MEN: The low 64 finishers from the first two rounds of stroke play will advance to single elimination match play.

TIES
A tie for the last qualifier’s place in the championship or at the Men’s qualifying stage shall be decided immediately by a hole by hole playoff. In the event of a tie for medalist, a sudden death playoff will be used to determine the medalist. Any match which is all square at the end of the stipulated round will be extended to as many holes as are required for the match to be won.

ENTRY DEADLINE
WOMEN: Wednesday, June 8, 2011.   MEN: Wednesday, May 18, 2011.
Entries must reach the OGA office by 5pm on the stated deadline date. (Entries by telephone, FAX or email are not acceptable).  Online entries are accepted until midnight at www.oga.org.

ENTRY FEE
$200 (Non-exempt players in the Men’s Division must pay $100 for the qualifying stage. Those advancing to the Championship will be charged the remaining $100). Applicable entry fees must accompany your entry. Refunds are not available after the closing date, except for documented medical reasons. All refunds are subject to a $20.00 administrative fee.

RULES
USGA Rules of Golf will govern all play except for those conditions modified by Local Rules. Any necessary Local Rules will be published prior to the start of the Championship. All questions will be resolved by the OGA Championship Committee, whose decisions shall be final.

SPIKELESS SHOES
It is a condition of this competition that contestants in the Oregon Amateur Championship will not be permitted to wear metal spikes on their golf shoes during Championship play. Contestants may wear golf shoes with any of the alternative “spikeless” products, or any golf teaching shoes, tennis shoes, sneakers or any other hard or soft soled shoes that will not penetrate or damage a soft putting green.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES
As a condition of this competition, the use of electronic measuring devices will be allowed. Devices that measure anything other than distance are non-conforming. Any player that carries or uses a non-conforming device will be disqualified.

PROHIBITION OF OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
As a condition of this Championship, the use of cellular phones, noise making pagers, radios, iPods, and any other similar electronic noise making devices will be prohibited during Championship play. Clarifications and special requests regarding this condition should be directed to the OGA Championship Committee.

GOLF EQUIPMENT
Golf clubs on the latest list of USGA Non-Conforming Driving Clubs will be prohibited from all OGA Championships. A copy of the USGA Non-Conforming Driving Clubs list will be available at the starter’s table prior to each round. The penalty for carrying but not making a stroke with a non-conforming club in stroke play is two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty of four strokes. The penalty in match play, at the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction of two holes.  The penalty for making a stroke with a non-conforming golf club is DISQUALIFICATION. The penalty for using a non-conforming tee or any other object to raise the ball off the ground is DISQUALIFICATION.

GOLF BALLS
Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls shall be used. THE SO-CALLED “ONE-BALL RULE” SHALL BE IN EFFECT. The optional conditions prescribed in Appendix I (Part C 1-b) of The Rules of Golf shall be in effect.

TIME OF STARTING
The optional condition for time of starting prescribed in Appendix I (Part C-2) of The Rules of Golf shall be in effect.

STARTING TIMES & PRACTICE ROUNDS
Starting times, pairings, and practice round information will be forwarded via email. Complete tournament information will be at www.oga.org. Unless you specify on your entry, tournament information will NOT be sent via U.S. Mail.

LODGING
Refer to the OGA website at www.oga.org for up-to-date hotel information.

CODE OF CONDUCT
Contestants are expected to (1) know and play by the Rules of Golf, (2) conduct themselves at all times in a sportsmanlike manner, (3) respect the golf course and the rights of other contestants, (4) fulfill their playing obligations and (5) know and abide by the OGA Pace of Play Policy. If the Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, including but not limited to unsportsmanlike conduct (cheating, damaging the golf course, defacing club property, using loud obscene language, throwing clubs, etc.), it may impose a penalty of DISQUALIFICATION and possible suspension from future play in OGA Championships. Any disciplinary actions imposed on a contestant by the OGA may be formally communicated to a representative of the contestant’s club and/or to any other allied golf association that the OGA deems appropriate.

DRESS CODE
Suitable attire must be worn at all times. Suitable attire does not include spandex body wear, cutoffs, running shorts, running suits, short-shorts, tank tops, tee shirts, denim of any kind or color, or unkempt clothing of any kind. Neat and clean pants, skirts, slacks, cords, or appropriately hemmed, tailored shorts no more than 6 inches above the knee (men’s shorts must have a minimum of three pockets) are acceptable as are sweaters, sweatshirts, and golf shirts (men’s shirts must have collars), women’s golf shirts and golf blouses. Shoes must be worn at all times. Contestants failing to meet the OGA Dress Code will not be permitted to play.

AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORTATION & CADDIES
Players must walk at all times during a stipulated round.  Contestants may use a caddie.

CONDITIONS & SCHEDULES
The OGA assumes no liability for any conditions of the competition. Upon submitting this entry and subsequently playing in this competition, players agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the OGA and its respective affiliates directors, officers, employees, agents, and assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities and losses, including, without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and expenses of litigation, arising out of any negligent act or omission of the indemnifying party in connection with the conditions herein. The OGA Championship Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. The decision of the Committee in any matter shall be final.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
The OGA will make every effort to complete the scheduled number of rounds of the tournament.  As a general policy, in circumstances under which the final round is suspended due to inclement weather and  it becomes impossible to complete the round on the same day:  1) If all players in the field/flight/division have not completed at least 9 holes, the results of the Championship will be determined by reverting to the previous round’s totals and the suspended round will be canceled, or 2) If all players have completed at least 9 holes of the final round, every effort will be made to finish the final round on the following day.  All decisions to suspend or resume play will be at the discretion of the Committee.  Any additional information regarding guidelines for suspensions and cancelations can be obtained by contacting the OGA.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY
MONDAY, JUNE 20 - 18-Hole Stroke Play Qualifying
TUESDAY, JUNE 21 - 18-Hole Stroke Play Qualifying
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 - Rnd 1 Matches
THURSDAY, JUNE 23 - (am) Rnd 2 Matches; (pm) Rnd 3 Matches (men)
FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - (am) Quarterfinals; (pm) Semifinals
SATURDAY, JUNE 25 - 36-Hole Championship Final
(Awards Reception & Ceremony immediately following play)

UNOFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL
Entrants who unofficially withdraw without an acceptable reason and without notifying the OGA office will not be granted entry into any future OGA events for a minimum of one year.