HOST SITE
The site for the 2024 WEGA Senior Amateur Championship is The Emerald Golf Club in New Bern, North Carolina.

The Emerald Golf Club is a top ten public course in North Carolina.

Its championship course layout is nonetheless amateur-friendly.

The Emerald Golf Club hosted the Shrine Classic for a decade.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The Championship is open to:
Female amateur golfers who will have reached their fiftieth birthday by October 15, 2024, have a certified handicap index of 17.5 or less, and belong to a Women’s Eastern Golf Association (WEGA) Member Club that has paid dues for 2024. Clubs in all states in the United States are eligible to join the Association.
The annual non-refundable dues for each Member Club or School are $35 and must be paid by the close of registration on October 14. A contestant may pay dues for her club if her club is not on the list of clubs/schools that have already paid dues. If you have any questions about eligibility, call/text either, Jan Sutherland at (434) 489-4497 or Shelley Savage at (571) 236-7551.

ENTRY DEADLINE AND SIZE OF FIELD
Entries will open on August 1, 2024. Entries that meet the requirements will be accepted in the order that they are received. Players can expect to receive their acceptance by email within 7 days of completing the entry process. Entry form, handicap information, and payment of entry fee must all be received before an acceptance will be sent.
The field is limited to 80 players. If more than 80 entries are received, players will be placed on the waiting list in the order they are received. Entries will be accepted until October 7th at 5 PM. Entries received after that date will be placed on the waiting list and can only be accepted if a cancellation occurs. Players are encouraged to enter before September 22nd so that the committee and host club can appropriately plan for the Championship. Any inquiries about the status of an entry should be directed to Ellen Fraser (617) 207-2134 or
wegareg@gmail.com). The Committee has sole discretion in accepting or rejecting contestants, as well as in assigning a position on the waiting list.

HANDICAP VERIFICATION
A contestant must provide verification of her handicap before her entry can be considered complete. Handicaps will be updated to the October 1 st handicap revision. In accepting entries and determining placement on the waiting list, the Committee will consider such factors as the completeness and currency of the handicap record as well as performance in other tournaments. A copy of an online handicap record may be sent to wegareg@gmail.com or a PGA/LPGA professional may send an email to that address.

WEGA MEMBERSHIP
Only clubs or schools are members of WEGA; there are no individual memberships. Clubs in all states in the United States are eligible to join the Association. Contestants should look at the list of member clubs on the website. If dues have not been paid, the contestant may pay dues for her club or school by using the PayPal button on the membership page or by mailing a $35 check made payable to WEGA to Membership Chairperson Jan Sutherland:

Jan Sutherland
240 River Oak Drive
Danville, VA 24541

FORMAT AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION
This is a 54-hole stroke play event with no cut. Pairings for rounds 2 and 3 will be determined based on the score(s) of the previous day(s). The Championship will be played in accordance with THE RULES OF GOLF.
In this competition, the Women’s Eastern Golf Association has adopted the local rule allowing the use of distance measuring devices. The new groove specification adopted for elite amateur competitions IS NOT IN EFFECT for this championship.
The field will be flighted after Day 2 based on scores. WEGA uses the USGA tie-breaking system to break ties. WEGA will crown a 2024 Senior Amateur Champion as well as a Super Senior Amateur Champion (age 65 or older as of October 15, 2024).
The WEGA Championship tee yardage will be 5400 – 5500 yards.
The 2024 Senior Amateur Champion will be the player with the lowest 54-hole gross total and may come from any flight. The 2024 Super Senior Champion may also come from any flight.
Players must indicate their eligibility for the super senior prize on their entry form.
Players and spectators are expected to abide by the dress code of the host club. Please do not wear tank tops, tee shirts or denim on golf course property. Men are required to wear collared shirts. Spectators will not be allowed to use golf carts for viewing play. The use of personal scooter carts for those with disabilities is permitted.

CARTS
Carts are required and are included in the entry fee for the 3-day tournament; caddies are not permitted.
Please note that WEGA will NOT be able to accommodate cart seating requests based on Covid-19 concerns or vaccination concerns. Please be aware that you may be assigned a cart with a non-vaccinated player.

CHAMPIONSHIP FEES
The Entry fee is $275. The entry fee must be paid online at www.womenseastern.org at the time of registration. Questions should be addressed to Ellen Fraser at wegareg@gmail.com.
This fee includes cart fees and range balls for three days of the Championship, as well as the opening buffet dinner and awards luncheon. The practice round fee for Monday, October 14th is $40 plus tax and includes range balls.

Please note that the WEGA membership dues for eligible Clubs and Schools are different from and not included in the entry fee. Please see the section above entitled WEGA MEMBERSHIP for more information on the membership dues.

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
If you must cancel, please do so promptly.
For cancellations received on or before September 22nd the total entry fee less a $25 processing fee will be refunded. Cancellations received after September 22 nd and before October 7th, $90 will be refunded.
Cancellations received on or after October 7th will not receive a refund. Those on the waiting list who do not gain entry into the tournament will receive a full refund.

REGISTRATION / LATE ARRIVAL
Contestants MUST register on Monday, October 14th from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at The Emerald Golf Club or notify the Committee of late arrival. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of place with no refund.

Notification of late arrival must be done by phone only. Please call Jan Sutherland (434-489-4497). Emails or phone calls to the Club are not acceptable.

PRACTICE ROUNDS
Practice Rounds may be booked after your entry has been accepted. Practice rounds may be scheduled for Monday, October 14th. Call The Emerald Club at (252) 633-4440 to schedule. The cost for Practice Rounds is $40 plus tax (includes green fees, cart and range balls) and is not included in the entry fee. Practice rounds on other dates may be scheduled through the pro shop and are subject to regular rates. The contestant will be responsible for paying for each practice round upon checking in for her round.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (weather permitting)

Monday, October 14
8:00AM – 1:30PM: Registration at The Emerald Club Clubhouse
6:00PM: Rules Meeting and buffet at The Emerald Club Clubhouse
Cash bar available. First round tee times will be distributed and Sheila Hopkins
Cup teams announced.
Tuesday, October 15
Starting times from the 1st tee
Wednesday, October 16
Starting times from the 1st tee
Thursday, October 17
Shotgun start
Immediately following play, WEGA will host an Awards Luncheon.

PRIZES
Championship – Winner and Runner- Up

Flight Prizes

Super Senior – Winner and Runner-Up
Sheila M. Hopkins Cup – Members of winning Team*

*Concurrent with the Championship, a two-day team competition is held and played in honor of the Championship founder, Sheila Hopkins. Teams will be announced during the Monday evening buffet.