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This marks the first year that Idle Hour Country Club has hosted the Southern Amateur Championship. The Southern Amateur Championship was first played in 1902 at Nashville Golf & Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. A.F. Schwartz of New Orleans, La. defeated Percy Whitling 4 and 2 to win the inaugural event. The Championship was not played in 1918 due to World War I and 1942-1945 due to World War II. Format was changed from match play to stroke play in 1964. Nick Gabrelick of Trinity, Florida claimed the 2023 Championship title at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
58 of the top 150 amateurs in the world are set to compete in this year’s Southern Amateur Championship, including 2022 Southern Amateur Champion David Ford, 2022 Southern Junior Champion, Wyatt Plattner, and 2023 Southern Junior Champion, Tyler Watts. Receiving a record 1,024 entries in 2024, the field is set for the best amateurs in the world to compete on the 1924 Donald Ross designed course that was restored by Ron Prichard in 2004.
2024 also marks the third year of the Elite Amateur Golf Series. Designed to challenge “the best of the best” in amateur golf, the Elite Amateur Golf Series (EAGS) aligns seven of the top men's amateur championships in a collective competition, the Elite Amateur Cup. In addition to the Southern Amateur, the Elite Amateur Golf Series members include the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur, North & South Amateur, Trans-Mississippi Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur and Western Amateur. For more information about the Elite Amateur Golf Series, visit the EAGS website.
Exemptions
Players extended a Bobby Jones Invitation by the SGA Amateur Competition Committee are exempt from sectional qualifying.
Eligibility
Entries are open to any male golfer who has a current Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4 under the World Handicap System as of the close of entries.
Championship Format
- 72 holes of stroke play. The field will be cut to the low 50 and ties after 36 holes.
- The lowest score for 72 holes will be the Champion.
- In the event of a tie for the Championship, a “sudden-death” hole-by-hole play-off will be held immediately following play. The play-off holes and their order of play will be determined by the Rules Committee.
- Initial groupings will be for the first two rounds; the field will be cut and grouped by score after the second round for the third round; grouped by score after the third round for the fourth round.
Yardage: 7010 yards (Par 35-35–70)
Course/Slope Rating: 73.8/131
Championship Schedule (all times in E.T.)
Monday, July 15
8:00 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.: On-Site Qualifier tee times off of #1 & #10 tees.
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Player Registration in Clubhouse Foyer. Practice facilities open.
Tuesday, July 16
7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Player Registration in Clubhouse Foyer.
8:00 a.m. - 3:31 p.m.: Practice Round tee times available.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch in Family Grill.
Wednesday, July 17
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast in Family Grill.
7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 1: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. off #1 & #10 tees. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch in Family Grill.
Thursday, July 18
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast in Family Grill.
6:30 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 2: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. off #1 & #10 tees. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch in Family Grill.
Field cut to low 50 scores and ties after 36 holes.
Friday, July 19
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast in Family Grill.
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 3: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. off #1tee. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch in Family Grill.
Field re-grouped according to score.
Saturday, July 20
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast in Family Grill.
6:30 a.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 4: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. off #1tee. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch in Family Grill.
Awards ceremony immediately following play at scoreboard (weather permitting).
Exemptions & Rankings Earned
- Champion earns an exemption into the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. from August 12-18, 2024.
- Champion receives a five-year exemption in the Southern Amateur Championship (2025-2029).
About the Southern Golf Association (SGA)
The Southern Golf Association, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest golf organizations and serves member clubs over a 15-state area. Recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Regional Golf Associations as one of the leaders in the promotion of Amateur Golf, SGA championships are selected for inclusion as criteria for selecting players for USGA and State team competitions. Through the years, SGA Champions have been chosen to represent various state golf associations in selected team competitions, including the Walker Cup and World Amateur. The SGA is host to the Southern Junior Championship as well as the Southern Amateur Championship each year.
For more information about the Southern Golf Association, visit www.southerngolf.org
Mikayla King
Director of Media, Marketing & Communications
Southern Golf Association
205-803-6524
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