By: Greg Johnson
The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced that exemptions for state championships like the Michigan Men’s and Women’s Amateur Champions will be awarded exemptions into the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur. Likewise, the winners of the Michigan Girls’ Junior State Amateur and Boy’s Junior State Amateur Championships will earn exemptions into the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur.
Previously, the champions of the four Michigan tournaments had to compete in qualifiers with other qualified golfers to earn starting spots in those four USGA national championships.
The USGA also announced changes to the qualifying process for the U.S. Amateur. Starting this year there will be local and regional qualifying events for the U.S. Amateur.
Of special note to Michigan golfers, also starting in 2024, the quarterfinalists in the Michigan Amateur – providing they have entered the national championship by the May 29 deadline – are exempt from Local Qualifying and move directly to Final Qualifying.
GAM will host one of 45 Local Qualifying tournaments for the U.S. Amateur on July 1, at Oakland University’s Katke-Cousins course in Rochester.
GAM will host a U.S. Women’s Amateur Local Qualifier on July 9, at the University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor.
The U.S. Junior Amateur is being hosted in Michigan this year by Oakland Hills Country Club, July 22-27. The Local Qualifier is scheduled for June 10, at Country Club of Lansing.
The U.S. Junior Girls’ Local Qualifier is June 17 at Forest Akers West Golf Course/Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Ken Hartmann, senior director of competitions and USGA services for the GAM, said in order for golfers to be eligible to take advantage of exemptions they earn in the Michigan championships they must have entered the USGA championship by each tournament’s entry deadline.
“They are not going to allow a late entry even though you earned the exemption. Essentially you have to enter both the Michigan championship and the national championship by the deadlines to take advantage of the exemptions.”
