Canadian Men's Amateur Championship

ELIGIBILITY

1.        This competition is open to male amateur golfers who are members in good standing of a golf club belonging to and in good standing with the Royal Canadian Golf Association or clubs in other countries, which are in good standing with their respective Associations.

2.        A player submitting an application listing a foreign club or golf association and proof of foreign handicap certification will be entered as a foreign entrant, whether or not he is a foreign resident.

3.        All applications are subject to approval or rejection by the RCGA at any time before or after the start of play.

ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS FOR THE CANADIAN MEN’S AMATEUR

Each Provincial Golf Association has been allocated a quota of applications into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.  The quota system is based on a formula and is available for viewing through each Provincial Golf Association. Each Provincial Golf Association will decide on how their quota will be filled.  All quota players must complete this application and submit it to the RCGA within five business days following the completion of their provincial championship.  Unused quota spots past that date will be returned to the RCGA for use at their discretion.

Provincial Quota Numbers for 2007

British Columbia	25	Québec	7
Alberta	19	New Brunswick	8
Saskatchewan	4	Nova Scotia	6
Manitoba	4	Prince Edward Island	4
Ontario	43	Newfoundland and Labrador	4

EXEMPTIONS

1.        Canadian Men’s Amateur Champions for the past 10 years.             

Darren Wallace – 2004                          Dillard Pruitt – 2002                              Dale Goehring – 1997

2.        The quarter-finalists in the 2006 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship:

Kevin Blue, Ontario                              Ashley Hall, Australia                            Nick Taylor, British Columbia

Kevin Crozier, Prince Edward Island  Todd Halpen, Alberta                           Ryan Yip, Alberta

Graham DeLaet, Saskatchewan                                                                           

3.        2007 Canadian Club Champions Champion

4.        2007 Canadian Senior Match Play Champion

5.        2007 Canadian Junior Boys Champion

6.        2006 Canadian Junior Boys Champion                Nick Taylor, British Columbia

7.        2006 Canadian Mid-Amateur Champion             Kris Wasylowich, Alberta

8.        2006 Canadian Mid-Master Champion                Dave Bunker, Ontario

9.        2006 Canadian Men’s Senior Champion             Peter Howe, British Columbia

10.     Playing members of the 2007 Willingdon Cup Teams (Part of provincial quota)

11.     Current provincial Men’s Amateur Champions (Part of provincial quota)

12.     Top 5 players on the CN Future Links Junior Order of Merit

13.     Host Club Exemption                                          Riverside Country Club

14.     2007 Barrett East Coast Amateur Champion

15.     2006 USGA Amateur Champion                         Richie Ramsay, Scotland

16.     2007 British Amateur Champion        

17.     2007 Australian Amateur Champion

18.     2007 New Zealand Amateur Champion

19.     2007 Glencoe Invitational Champion

20.     2006 Western Amateur Champion                       Bronson LaCassie, Australia

21.     2006 Porter Cup Champion                                  Seung-Su Han, South Korea

22.     2006 North South Amateur Champion               Brady Schnell, United States

23.     2007 Monroe Invitational Champion

24.     2006 US Public Links Champion                         Casey Watabu, United States

25.     2007 Dixie Amateur Champion                            Mu Hu, United States

26.     2006 Player’s Amateur Champion                        Jonathan Moore, United States

27.     Up to four places for prominent amateur golfers not otherwise exempt. These places to be granted at the sole discretion of the RCGA.

APPLICATION FEE & PROCEDURE

1.        All applications must be filed on the official application (enclosed) or printed from the website. Faxed or photocopied applications will not be processed.

2.        The application fee of $200 must accompany the application (includes all applicable taxes). Money orders should be in Canadian funds, and payable to the Royal Canadian Golf Association. Credit card users, please print all numbers clearly. Cheques will not be accepted.

3.        All applications must be returned to the Royal Canadian Golf Association, Amateur Championships Division, 1333 Dorval Drive, Suite 1, Oakville, ON L6M 4X7; and must arrive prior to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) Wednesday, July 11, 2007. Late, incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be accepted, and are not the responsibility of the RCGA.

4.        Application fees will be refunded if the RCGA is notified (1-800-263-0009, ext. 250) of the player’s intention to withdraw prior to the application deadline. Application fees will not be refunded after the application deadline without a medical certificate. Refunds are subject to a $30 administrative fee.

5.        Entrants will be notified promptly that their application has been received via e-mail. Received applications will also be posted on the championship website. NOTE: Submitting an application does not in itself guarantee a place in the championship. Notice of acceptance into the championship field will be sent to players following the application deadline by e-mail and regular mail.

FOREIGN AND CANADIAN QUALIFYING OPPORTUNITIES

The RCGA will conduct a qualifier for the Canadian Amateur on Friday, August 10, 2007 at the Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  All non-exempt, non Provincial Quota players must attempt to qualify on Friday, August 10, 2007.

Qualifier Entry Requirements:  The qualifier is open to all male amateur golfers who are members of a club belonging to the RCGA or clubs in other countries, which are in good standing with their respective associations.  All players must have a Handicap Factor of 2.4 or less to be eligible to compete.  All players must have their Factor signed and approved by the Club Captain or Handicap Chairman and it must accompany the official entry form. 

Qualifier Field Composition (84 Players):  If over-subscribed, the qualifier field will be selected by the RCGA based on previous championship experience.  The official Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship Qualifier Resume must be sent with the original application in order for consideration into the field.  Twenty spots will be reserved for foreign players.  *The host province will receive 10 spots into the qualifier.  If your application is not one of the 74 selected, it will be placed on an alternate list in order of championship experience. 

*Provincial spots will be awarded at the discretion of the Saskatchewan Golf Association provided those players meet the eligibility criteria. 

Qualifier Application Fee and Procedure:

The qualifier fee will be $100.00, which includes all applicable taxes.  Money orders should be in Canadian funds and payable to the RCGA. Please note that the RCGA no longer accepts cheques as a method of payment.

All applications for the Qualifier must be submitted to the RCGA, Amateur Championships Division, 1333 Dorval Drive, Suite 1, Oakville, ON, L6M 4X7; and must be received on or before Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 5:00 pm EDT.  Late, faxed or incomplete entries will not be accepted and are not the responsibility of the RCGA.

Those players who qualify must pay the balance of the entry fee ($100) and fill out an official entry form prior to participating in the Canadian Amateur.  The $100 qualifier fee is credited to the tournament entry fee.

Qualifying Spots: The number of spots available will be based on the number of entries the RCGA receives prior to the entry deadline; however, the RCGA will have a minimum of 5 spots available.  In the event the qualifying round is cancelled, lot will decide spots into the Canadian Men’s Amateur.

Registration: All qualifiers must register on Thursday, August 9, 2007 between 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  Failure to do so may result in DISQUALIFICATION.  Your position will be given to the next alternate.

Qualifier Tee Times: Friday, August 10, 2007 beginning at 7:30 a.m.  You will be notified of your tee time at registration.

ALL PLAYERS FOREIGN AND CANADIAN WHO WISH TO ATTEMPT TO QUALIFY

All applications must be filed on the official application enclosed. Additional entry forms may be obtained by contacting the RCGA by phone to the Amateur Championships Division at 1-800-263-0009, ext. 250, or by email at aturcotte@rcga.org. Additional applications for the qualifier may be obtained by visiting the RCGA website at www.rcga.org or by contacting the respective provincial golf association.

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD

Field size, as established by the quota system, will be 162 players for 2007, including qualifiers who are successful in the qualifying round.

Note: The winner and runner-up of the 2007 Canadian Men’s Amateur will be granted an exemption into the 2008 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

REGISTRATION AT RIVERSIDE COUNTRY CLUB

Players must register at the RCGA Tournament Office at Riverside Country Club on Saturday, August 11, 2007 between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.  Players who do not register for the championship before 5:00 pm Saturday, August 11, 2007 may be subject to DISQUALIFICATION.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

Friday, August 10, 2007                         Qualifying Round

Saturday, August 11, 2007                     Practice Round

Sunday, August 12, 2007                       First Championship Round - 18 holes stroke play

Monday, August 13, 2007                     Second Championship Round - 18 holes stroke play

Match Play:

Following the 36-hole stroke play qualifying, the field will be reduced to the low 64 qualifiers. Qualifying scores will determine a competitor’s position in the draw. All matches will be 18 holes, except for the final match, which will be 36 holes.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007                     am - First round match play

Wednesday, August 15, 2007                am - Second round match play                             pm - Third round match play

Thursday, August 14, 2007                   am - Quarterfinal matches                                     pm - Semi-final matches       

Friday, August 17, 2007                         am - 36-hole Championship match

PLAY-OFFS

In case of a tie for the last qualifying spot, the qualifier shall be decided by a hole-by-hole play-off the morning after completion of the stroke play.

In the event of a tied match,

1.        The winner shall be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off and

2.        The stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for the match to be won.

CADDIES

1.        The use of caddies is not compulsory. Competitors requesting a caddie should mark the appropriate section on the application.  

2.        Caddies must adhere to the RCGA dress code, a copy of which is included in the competitor’s application package.

3.        Caddies must wear flat-soled shoes. Violation of this condition may result in the DISQUALIFICATION of the competitor.

RULES OF GOLF; CLOSE OF COMPETITION; CONFORMING GOLF BALLS; CONFORMING DRIVERS

1.        The RCGA Rules of Golf will govern all play. The RCGA Committee shall have the final decision on all claims and disputes.   The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee. 

2.        Only brands of golf balls on the most current List of Conforming Golf Balls may be used. The “One ball” Condition prescribed in Appendix I, page 116 of the RCGA Rules of Golf, is in effect.

3.        The driver a player carries must have a clubhead that is listed on the most current List of Conforming Driver Heads.

TRANSPORTATION

The RCGA will evaluate each individual request to use motorized transportation in RCGA Championships or qualifying rounds due to a claimed disability. In order for the RCGA to properly evaluate such requests, it is necessary to submit medical documentation setting forth the exact nature of the disability and how that disability prevents such player from walking during a stipulated round. In addition, players will have to submit sufficient information to enable the RCGA to determine that providing a cart would not provide a player with an advantage over other players. Please visit www.rcga.org to download via Adobe Acrobat Reader a copy of the RCGA's Transportation Request Form, which each player seeking a golf cart for himself due to a disability must complete and submit to the RCGA with the original entry form prior to the applicable closing date.

Distance-Measuring Devices

The local Rule permitting use of distance-measuring devices will NOT be implemented at RCGA competitions.  Their use would be in breach of Rule 14-3, the penalty for breach of this rule is DISQUALIFICATION. 

DRESS CODE AND FOOTWEAR

1.        Competitors must adhere to the RCGA dress code. Upon acceptance into the championship each player will be sent a copy of the RCGA dress code and footwear policy.

2.        It is a condition of RCGA competitions that shoes with metal or traditionally designed spikes are prohibited. Penalty for breach of this rule is Disqualification.

ANTI-DOPING POLICY

The RCGA has adopted the Canadian Anti-Doping Program set by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.  For further information please visit www.cces.ca.