The entry form for The Amateur Championship, issued by The R&A, includes a number of significant changes to the exemption categories and also to the dates.
The Championship will be played at Royal St George’s and Prince’s from 19-24 June, two weeks later than normal. After careful examination of amateur golf calendars throughout the world these dates have been chosen to permit more college players, particularly those playing in the NCAA Division 1 Finals in the U.S, to compete in the Amateur.
In the entry form, exemptions have been extended to the winners of 55 worldwide amateur tournaments that have been listed after an 18 month study to identify the world’s top amateur tournaments based on strength of field.
Two other significant exemptions are for the winners of the Boys Amateur Championship and the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
An entrant satisfying any of the exemption categories will be allocated a place in the starting field, irrespective of handicap whereas all non-exempt players must have an exact handicap that does not exceed 0.0.
"We spent a considerable time considering the amendments to The Amateur entry conditions in order to accommodate players around the world," said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.
"It is important that the Amateur Championship attracts the best possible field and with the change of date we believe it will now be possible for more overseas players to enter. Furthermore, the new exemptions will ensure that many of the world’s top amateurs will be guaranteed a place in the starting field of 288 and can therefore finalise their travel and accommodation arrangements for St George’s in June."
The entry form for The 2006 Amateur Championship can be viewed and downloaded at www.randa.org.
Contact:
Peter Dawson – Chief Executive
David Moir – Manager, Entries Department
The R&A
Tel: 01334 460000
