Golf Association of Philadelphia announces 2007 Open changes

  For the Amateurs, specifically, there is a significant alteration to the current Open qualifying procedure. Beginning this year, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Executive Committee has eliminated Open Championship qualifying occurring in conjunction with the first day of the Amateur Championship.

  On the Professional side, the Golf Association of Philadelphia increased the available prize money and will guarantee a $40,000 purse each year. That guaranteed prize money is the largest in tournament history.

  “The Golf Association of Philadelphia and its Executive Committee believe these changes will only enhance a player’s tournament experience,” said Dan Burton, President of the Golf Association of Philadelphia. “What’s nice about the changes, we feel, is that both sectors of competitors, Amateurs and Professionals, will substantially benefit from the conjunctive work of the Executive Committee and Philadelphia Section of the PGA.”

  As previously mentioned, three changes affect both Golf Association of Philadelphia players and Members of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA: The field expansion from 60 to 72 players; the increase in exemptions; and the greater qualifying flexibility.

  In past years only 60 players, 15 Amateurs and 45 Professionals, had the opportunity to compete in the Open. Expanding the field to 72 players will eliminate the Amateur/Professional tournament ratio, strengthen the championship field and allow for unlimited numbers on each side.

  An increase in field size also allows for more exemption opportunities for both sects of players. In addition to the Professional exemptions that were provided in 2006 (Top 15 Section Player of the Year prior year, past five Open Champions), the Association has added exemptions for the host club professional and the top five finishers and ties in the previous year’s Open. In addition, the Golf Association of Philadelphia Executive Committee decided to expand the Section Player of the Year exemption list to the Top 20 instead of Top 15.

  On the Amateur side, a total of 10 exemptions will be available, an increase from the five available in previous years. Exemptions will be the Top 7 from the 2006 William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings; the 2006 Open Championship’s Low Amateur; the 2007 Amateur Champion and 2007 Middle-Amateur Champion.

  For those playing into the championship, three Qualifiers will be available in July on three different days in three different regions of the Association’s coverage area. This allows for greater flexibility for all parties involved.

  For the Amateur player, the Executive Committee felt strongly about establishing separate Open qualifiers, not only to create the strongest field possible, but also to alleviate the burden placed on the first day of the Amateur Championship.

  As stated earlier, in year’s prior, scores from the first day of the Amateur Championship determined the Match Play bracket, qualifiers for the Open Championship and also served as the initial two rounds of the Silver Cross Standings. This will no longer be the case. Separate Open qualifying will alleviate the strain of a poor performance by a competitor on one day of the GAP Schedule being eliminating from the William Hyndman, IIII Player of the Year race.

  The Executive Committee, making certain to keep in mind the fact golf is a livelihood for Professionals of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA, also decided to raise and guarantee a purse of $40,000 for the Championship. That guaranteed prize money is the largest in tournament history. (In the last five years the average purse was approximately $25,000.)

  It is also the third largest purse available to ALL Philadelphia Section of the PGA members.

  “This is a proud day for the Association,” said Mark Peterson, Executive Director of the Golf Association of Philadelphia. “We constantly strive to improve each Championship and I feel these changes for the 2007 Open will provide a wonderful opportunity for all players, amateurs and professionals.”

  Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 133 Member Clubs and 60,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.