VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. (April 16, 2009) – Reinforcing its commitment to attract the best amateur golfers, Pinehurst has modified the schedule and qualification system for the North & South Amateur Championships. In addition, all stroke play and match play rounds will be conducted on famed Pinehurst No. 2.
The changes affect the Men’s Championship, held since 1901 at Pinehurst, and the Women’s Championship, held since 1903 at the famed resort. Major changes include:
• Reduction in championship length: Both championships will begin Tuesday with a one-day stroke play qualifier and finish Saturday with a 36-hole final match, a change from the previous Monday – Sunday format.
• Stroke play qualification: A field of 96 will be determined by invitation by Pinehurst, in keeping with the championship’s historic nature as an invitational. Amateur and collegiate rankings, performance in past North & South Championships and other amateur events will be among the consideration factors for invitations.
• Match play composition: The field of 64 will consist of last year’s champion (assuming the #1 seed), the 30 top-ranked amateur players as of May 22, 2009 (exempt from stroke play qualifying), and the 33 lowest scores from Tuesday’s qualifier.
• Match play schedule: Match play will consist of one round on Wednesday, two rounds each on Thursday and Friday, and a 36-hole final match on Saturday.
• Venue: All stroke play and match play rounds for both the men’s and women’s events will be played on Pinehurst No. 2, site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur and 2014 U.S. Open Championships. Stroke play rounds in previous years have been held on No. 4 and No. 8.
Revised dates for the 109th Men’s North & South Amateur Championship are June 30- July 4, 2009; the 107th Women’s North & South Amateur Championship will be contested July 14-18, 2009. Players interested in more information should call the Pinehurst Tournament Director, Justin Meyers, at 910.235.8088 or visit Pinehurst.com.
“The changes in this year’s championship better reflect the event’s history,” said Pinehurst Director of Golf Chad Campbell. “We’re being more selective in the match play field to ensure the highest-ranked players have a chance to compete. The new schedule should benefit players in allowing for easier travel between events.”
2008 champion Matt Savage of Florida State University is expected to be in the match play field for the 2009 championship. Savage defeated Jamie Lovemark on the 40th hole of last year’s final to take home the coveted Putterboy Trophy.
In addition to the North and South Amateur Championships, held annually at Pinehurst since 1901, Pinehurst has previously served as the site of the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1962 and 2008 and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in 1989. It will welcome back the U.S. Open for a third time in 2014.
About the North & South Amateur and Pinehurst
First contested in 1901, the North & South Men’s Amateur Championship is one of the longest consecutive running amateur championships in the country. A rite of passage for many amateur golfers graduating to professional careers, its list of former champions includes such notables as Walter Travis, Chick Evans, Jack Nicklaus, Frank Stranahan, Jack Lewis, Curtis Strange and Davis Love, among others.
While ladies played in the first North & South Men’s Amateur Championship, the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship began two years later in 1903. Among its storied champions are Glenna Collett, Babe Didrickson Zaharias, Peggy Kirk Bell, Donna Andrews and Morgan Pressel.
About Pinehurst
Located in the North Carolina heartland, world-renowned Pinehurst Resort is a 2,000-acre historic property featuring spa, golf, tennis, family, events and leisure recreation. Widely known as the cradle of American golf, it has hosted more single golf championships than any other site in America, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches, PGA Tour Championship and many others. In 2008 it became the only resort to top the coveted Travel +Leisure Golf Best Golf Resort list for an unprecedented third time, as chosen by its readers. Pinehurst is a registered trademark of Pinehurst, LLC. See pinehurst.com or call 800-487-4653 for a complete list of events and activities.
Contact:
Janeen Driscoll, 910.235.8710
janeen.driscoll@pinehurst.com
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