Augusta Country Club is set to host the 103rd GSGA Amateur Championship from July 11-14. The usually private club will be opening the gates to the course to qualifying amateurs across Georgia.
THE FORMAT
The tournament will feature a 144-player field with 72 holes of individual stroke play with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes.
Players across the state will qualify through statewide qualification tournaments: Augusta CC (May 20), Barnsley Resort Adairsville (May 28), Green Island CC, Columbus (May 29), Mirror Lake GC, Villa Rica (May 29), Cateechee GC, Hartwell (May 30), Governors Towne Club, Acworth (May 30), Cherokee Run GC, Conyers (June 3), Savannah Quarters CC, Pooler (June 3), Southern Hills GC, Hawkinsville (June 5), West Pines GC, Douglasville (June 6), Doublegate CC, Albany (June 13), Towne Lake Hills, Woodstock (June 19).
Players can also qualify through player exemptions given by the GSGA. One example is the Host Club Champion.
THE HISTORY
The tournament has had notable winners, such as Harris English, Brian Harman, and Russell Henley, who are all still active on the professional golf stage. The most notable champion is the founder of Augusta National Golf Club and co-founder of the Masters Tournament, Bobby Jones.
Jones won the first-ever GSGA Amateur Championship that was hosted in 1916 at Capital City Club. The winner of the GSGA Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National GC, the 2025 Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest GC and an exemption into final qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship.
The winner of the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Open, the 2025 Open Championship and likely an invitation to the 2025 Masters Tournament.
Augusta Country Club Head Golf Professional Tommy Brannen, called the tournament a major stepping stone to more prestigious opportunities.
“I have told our members, ‘If you win the Club Championship, you are one step closer to playing across the creek,’” Brannen said.
The remainder of the top five finishers will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
THE PRIVACY
Augusta Country Club is usually a private club that cannot be accessed without approval or being accompanied by a member, both of which are hard to come by.
“We are honored to host this tournament as we are one of the founding clubs of the GSGA,” Brannen said. “The members are looking forward to seeing how the best players in the state play their golf course.”
