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CHAMPIONSHIP

 

· Player Bios
· Player Statistics
· Eligibility

Exemptions

· Local Exemptions
· Full Exemptions

Qualifying

· Local Qualifying Sites
· Sectional Qualifying Sites

 

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Eligibility

Entries are open to professional and amateur golfers who were females at birth. Amateurs must have up-to-date USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 4.4 under the USGA Handicap System.

Entries are subject to rejection at any time (including during the Championship) by the USGA. The reason for rejection may include unbecoming conduct.

Age: Players are required to list their date of birth on all online USGA entry forms.

In addition to listing their date of birth, all players who are minors in the state in which they reside (e.g., New Jersey, under the age of 18) must also list a parent/guardian and family physician with the appropriate phone numbers. The application must also be signed by the same parent/guardian. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this paragraph will result in rejection of the entry. Players subject to these restrictions may only submit a written entry and may not file an entry via the Internet.

Amateur Status: All amateur players must conform with the USGA Rules of Amateur Status as specified in the USGA Rules of Golf.

International Players: All amateur international players must also conform to Rule 4-1 of the USGA Rules of Amateur Status. These players may not accept expenses from outside sources unless specifically permitted by the USGA Rules of Amateur Status. For more information, see Rule 4-1 of the USGA Rules of Amateur Status.

Entries: Form, Fee, Closing Date
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All players, including those exempt, shall apply on USGA forms. Forms may be obtained from the USGA office or website (www.usga.org). Only those players for whom blank entries are filed by the USGA as noted in the section on exemptions will not be required to submit entry applications. Only one entry may be filed per player. The USGA reserves the right to disqualify anyone who submits more than one entry.

Entry fee of $125 shall be paid by every player. Entry fee will be refunded regardless of reason if the USGA (908-234-2300) is notified before the close of entries. After the close of entries, entry fee will be refunded in the event of injury or illness, if requested by July 3. No refund for any reason after July 3. A $25 service charge will be deducted from all refunds.

ENTRY APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY USGA NO LATER THAN 5 P.M. E.D.T. on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2003.

Late applications are not acceptable and will be automatically rejected.
(Entries by telephone, telegraph or FAX not acceptable.)

Time limit for entries means time of receipt at USGA (not time entry is sent to USGA). Entries should be submitted early to allow ample time for delay or error in transmission. The risk of delay or error in transmission lies solely with the entrant and the USGA shall have no liability with respect to any such delay or error and the consequences therefrom, including rejection of the entry.

Schedule
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Competition will be in three stages, at stroke play:

  1. Local Qualifying - 18 holes.
     
    State Date City Club Practice Official
    May 12, 2003
    AZ 5/12/2003 Mesa Alta Mesa C.C. 9-11 (after 1 pm) or contact club Christi Dickinson
    FL 5/12/2003 Naples The Naples Beach Hotel & G.C. 11 or contact club Bonnie Farnsworth
    SC 5/12/2003 Aiken Woodside Plantation 11 Tiffany Dell
    May 13, 2003
    CA 5/13/2003 Buena Park Los Coyotes C.C. contact club Pat Blalock
    OR 5/13/2003 Portland Columbia Edgewater C.C. 12 (after 3pm) Carol Falk
    PA 5/13/2003 Pittsburgh Totteridge G.C. 6-12 Fayann Kitna
    May 14, 2003
    GA 5/14/2003 Atlanta Standard C. 13 Stacy Easley
    MN 5/14/2003 Minneapolis Minnesota Valley C.C. contact club C.J. Blanchard
    May 15, 2003
    MD 5/15/2003 Pikesville Woodholme C.C. contact club Tinker Sanger
    TX 5/15/2003 Richardson Canyon Creek C.C. contact club Linda Thrash
    May 19, 2003
    FL 5/19/2003 Jacksonville Timuquana C.C. contact club Leslie Sirbaugh
    IN 5/19/2003 Indianapolis C.C. of Indianapolis 13-18 (pm) & contact club Marcia Luigs
    MA 5/19/2003 South Hadley The Orchards G.C. 18 Roberta Bolduc
    MO 5/19/2003 Kansas City Kansas City C.C. 18 or contact club Mary Jane Barnes
    May 20, 2003
    HI 5/20/2003 Kapolei Ko Olina G.C. 19 Mary Bea Porter-King

  2. Sectional Qualifying - 36 holes.
     
    State Date City Club Practice Official
    June 9, 2003
    CA 6/9/2003 Daly City Lake Merced G.C. info incl. in pairings Gail Rogers
    FL 6/9/2003 Heathrow The C.C. at Heathrow contact club Bruce Flower
    June 10, 2003
    NC 6/10/2003 Charlotte Charlotte C.C. 9 Tiffany Dell
    NJ 6/10/2003 Summit Canoe Brook C.C. contact club Ann Beard
    June 11, 2003
    TX 6/11/2003 Houston Champions G.C. Local: contact club
    Out of town: 10
    Nez Muhleman
    June 16, 2003
    IL 6/16/2003 Wheaton Cantgny G.C. contact club Cece Durbin
    OH 6/16/2003 Hudson Lake Forest C.C./Rosemont C.C. contact club Patty Jacobson
    June 17, 2003
    NY 6/17/2003 Rochester Webster G.C./Ontario G.C. 16 Robin Farran

  3. Championship - 72 holes.
    156 players eligible, comprising place-winners in Sectional Qualifying Rounds and those exempt from both qualifying stages.
Thursday, July 3-First round, 18 holes.
Friday, July 4-Second round, 18 holes.
60 lowest scorers and any tying for 60th place or anyone within 10 strokes of the leader for first 36 holes continue play July 5 and 6; remainder eliminated after 36 holes.
Saturday, July 5-Third round, 18 holes.
Sunday, July 6-Fourth round, 18 holes.
Lowest scorer for 72 holes will be champion. Any tie will be played off at 18 holes Monday, July 7; if play-off results in tie, play will immediately continue hole by hole until champion is determined.

Prizes
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CHAMPIONSHIP

Winner: Gold medal and custody of the Bud Semple Trophy for the ensuing year, subject to such conditions as USGA may establish.

Runner-Up: Silver medal.

Professionals Only: Not less than $2.9 million.

Professionals who start in Championship but do not return scores for 72 holes .... $750 each.

Amateurs returning 72-hole scores: Lowest scorer, gold pin; second lowest scorer, silver pin; others, bronze pin.

Ties: Prize money will be divided equally among those tied, except that if a professional wins a play-off for the Championship she will receive first prize money. If ties occur for medals, duplicates will be awarded, except that only the winner shall receive a Championship gold medal.

No Other Remuneration: By her application, the player acknowledges she is not entitled to remuneration of any kind for participation in the Championship other than prizes above.

Prize-Sharing Prohibited: By her application, the player certifies that she has not entered into and will not enter into any arrangement whereby she could have a financial interest in any other player's prize money (such as through prize-splitting or prize money "insurance").

LOCAL QUALIFYING ROUNDS

Lowest Scorer: Silver medal; if a tie, duplicate medals awarded.

SECTIONAL QUALIFYING ROUNDS

Lowest Scorer: Silver medal; if a tie, duplicate medals awarded.

Lowest Amateur Scorer: (if not lowest scorer): Silver medal; if a tie, duplicate medals awarded.

Rules of Golf; Close of Competition
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Play will be governed by the Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA. Questions shall be settled by the USGA Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final. The competition shall be deemed to have closed when the Championship trophy has been presented.

Golf Balls
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Only brands of golf balls on the most current USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls may be used. This list is updated monthly and may be found on the USGA website at www.usga.org or by contacting the USGA Technical Department at (908) 234-2300. The so-called "One-Ball Rule," the optional condition prescribed in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf, shall be in effect.

Footwear
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It is a condition at all qualifying sites indicated by an asterisk and italicized on this entry application that shoes with traditionally-designed spikes (regardless of composition, i.e., ceramic, plastic, etc.) or spikes, regardless of design, comprised either entirely or partially of metal (if such metal may come in contact with the course) are prohibited during the stipulated round. Penalty for breach of this condition: Disqualification.

Caddies
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Qualifying Rounds - A player may provide her own caddie. If she wishes the host club to furnish a caddie, she should ask the official in charge because sufficient caddies may not be available at the host club.

Championship proper - A player may provide her own caddie. If she wishes to have a caddie provided to her by the host club, she must complete the information as outlined in the Memorandum to Contestants which she will receive once her eligibility for the Championship is confirmed.

A player is not required to employ a caddie for any stage of the Championship.

Transportation
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Players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round. The optional condition prescribed in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf shall be in effect.

Anyone (player or caddie) seeking a golf cart due to a disability as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) should log onto www.usga.org/champs/ada or contact the USGA at (908) 234-2300 to obtain information on procedures for submitting such requests. All such requests and required information must be submitted to the USGA together with the entry application, all of which must be submitted in writing, by no later than 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, 2003. Please note that requests due to temporary injuries or impairments that do not qualify as a "disability" under the ADA will not be granted.

Time of Starting
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The optional condition for time of starting prescribed in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf shall be in effect.

Publicity and Promotion; Broadcasting
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The USGA may arrange for (i) promotion of the Championship, for radio and television broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship or excerpts thereof in various media, including so-called "online" or "new media" and (ii) the design, manufacture and sale of merchandise which commemorates or memorializes the Championship, throughout the world. By this application, the player consents to the use by the USGA, or persons authorized by the USGA, of her name, likeness, voice and references to her and photographs and other images of her and her play connected with her appearance in the Championship, or any portion(s) thereof, in connection with such media promotion, broadcasting and other exhibition and publication of the Championship and design, manufacture and sale of commemorative merchandise. The USGA may utilize the rights granted it hereunder in connection with the promotion and/or commemoration of the 2003 Championship as well as future Championships, other USGA Championships and the USGA.

The cooperation of players with authorized representatives of the media is required, provided that no pre-Championship activities outside of those activities which are part of the Championship shall be required and provided that the player's Championship play is not unreasonably interfered with.

Registration at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
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By 10 A.M. on TUESDAY, JULY 1, eligible players must:

  1. Register in person at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club; or
  2. State arrival time directly to USGA Headquarters, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, 12930 N.W. Old Pumpkin Ridge Rd., North Plains, OR 97133. Telephone (503)647-4747. Place may be forfeited by a player from whom no word is received by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1.

Practice Privileges
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Privileges of the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club are extended to qualified players in the Championship from June 30 through July 2.

Accommodations
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Information concerning accommodations will be provided on completion of Sectional Qualifying rounds. Exempt players will receive this information from the USGA.

Qualifying Location; Transferring
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Players' preferences for both Local and Sectional Qualifying locations must be designated on the entry.
If a Local or Sectional Qualifying location has more players than can be accomodated, some players may be transferred to another location and the date for qualifying may be different than the original requested date. Locally exempt players who have filed entries will automatically be placed in the sectional site of their qualifying choice. Otherwise transfer will be based on the date of receipt of entry application, i.e. players filing applications late will be subject to transfer. Transfers are final. No qualifying site is final until after entries close.
Transfer to another location will be permissible only as follows:

Local Qualifying Rounds - before entries close;

Sectional Qualifying Rounds - before Local Qualifying results are determined.

Qualifiers' Places; Ties; Substitutions
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The number of qualifiers' places in each location will be determined by the USGA after entries close, based on size and playing quality of the field.

A tie for the last qualifier's place or an alternate's place shall be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off.

Substitutions in order of qualifying scores will be allowed for qualifiers unable to compete in the next stage of the Championship. In the case of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, the substitute must play in the location entered by the withdrawn player.

If a qualifying location cannot fill its qualifiers' places, or if an exempt player withdraws, the place made available will be reallotted to another location. A reallotment schedule will be prearranged by the USGA based on size and quality of fields.

If a player withdraws before playing a stroke either in Sectional Qualifying or in the Championship proper, a substitution is allowed. Only the USGA may make such substitutions. Alternates have no status at the Championship.

Acceptance of Places; Notice of Withdrawal
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On the day of qualifying, every qualifier should notify the Official in Charge whether she will play in the next stage.

If a qualifier or exempt player withdraws, she must notify the USGA (908-234-2300) promptly in order to insure an alternate fair opportunity to play. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from future USGA competition.

Exemptions
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Players in the categories listed on the exemptions page will be eligible for exemption. Exemption under categories reserved for amateurs will be granted only to players who have remained amateurs. An amateur who is exempt into Sectional Qualifying or Championship stage through a category reserved for amateurs becomes ineligible if she becomes a professional before beginning play or during the play of the Championship. Exempt players who wish to participate in the Championship must file an entry, except those players for whom blank entries are filed as noted below. Exempt players need not meet the handicap requirement unless otherwise noted.

Conditions, Schedules
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The USGA Executive Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. The decision of the Executive Committee in any matter shall be final.



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