Headline: Massachusetts Golf Association Announces Host Sites and Eligibility For 2018 Ouimet Memorial Tournament
For Immediate Release: July 5, 2017
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| The 2018 Ouimet Memorial Tournament will be contested at Concord CC (above) and Woodland GC. |
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Norton, MA — In preparation for what will be a historic 2018 Championship season in the Bay State, the MGA announced the confirmed host sites and new eligibility requirements for the 2018 Ouimet Memorial Tournament.
The 54-hole stroke play event, which the MGA will take over full management of beginning in 2018, will see the first 36 holes contested at Concord Country Club on July 25th and 26th. The final round – as it has for the past 50 years – will continue to be held at Woodland Golf Club on July 27th, the longtime home club of the event’s namesake.
“We extend our appreciation to Concord Country Club for opening its doors for two rounds and to Woodland Golf Club for continuing what has been a special tradition for the Ouimet Memorial Tournament,” said Tom Bagley, President of the MGA. “Competitors will enjoy playing on two of the most historic layouts over the three-day period.”
The format of the event will also change from invitation only to merit and exempt based eligibility for amateur competitors who hold an active USGA/GHIN Handicap Index with an MGA Member Club.
The eligibility standards will fall in line with those of the MGA’s current slate of Championship events and include exempt categories for the Championship Division (18), Lowery (senior) Division (10) and Women’s Division (11).
Included in the list of exempt categories are past Ouimet Memorial Champions (regardless of state/club affiliation), top 10 scorers and ties from the previous year’s competition, top champions and finishers from the major MGA and WGAM Championships and top scorers from elite regional events.
“Much work has been done over the past year, and we are thrilled to be announcing these strategic and important changes beginning in 2018,” said Jesse Menachem, the MGA’s Executive Director. “Significant efforts have been made by representatives involved from both the MGA and the Ouimet Fund to ensure the success of this tournament continues for years to come.”
The latest announcement comes following the news last fall that the MGA was to assume lead management of the Ouimet Memorial beginning in 2017. The event will follow its traditional format in 2017 as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. This year’s event will be held on July 26-28 at Brae Burn Country Club, The Country Club and Woodland Golf Club.
"We are looking forward to celebrating our 50th event this year and then passing the torch to the MGA," said Richard Connolly, Ouimet Fund Tournament Chairman. "We are confident that the prestige of this tournament will be well preserved into the future."
Next season, the Ouimet Tournament will be fully managed by the MGA’s Championship Department to allow for the Ouimet Fund to focus attention on other key fundraising efforts such as its Golf Marathon and club relations.
“We are happy to have the MGA continue this great tradition,” said Greg Gailius, President of the Ouimet Fund. “Under their leadership, the event will only grow in stature and thus honor the legacy of Francis Ouimet and his contributions to the game of golf.”
In 2018, the Ouimet Memorial will officially become part of the MGA Championship Proper schedule and will represent the third 54-hole stroke play event offered by the state golf association – joining the Massachusetts Open and Massachusetts Mid-Amateur – and as such will be a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) Counting event.
The MGA will also expand the field for the Senior and Women’s divisions. Additionally, the Women’s division will play 54 holes (it is presently conducted over 18 holes). The Ouimet Fund introduced a senior division in 1999, and a women’s division in 2004.
“We’d particularly like to recognize Ouimet Fund Chairman Richard Connolly, Ouimet Fund President Greg Gailius and Ouimet Fund Executive Director Bob Donovan for their help in this process,” said Menachem. “This has truly been a cooperative effort from start to finish, and we could not be more thrilled to be working with such an exceptional organization.”
In addition to its management of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament, the MGA will also be completing a historic merge with the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts (WGAM). That merge will become official on January 1, 2018.
“We are enjoying a special time in Bay State golf,” said Bagley. “There has never been more collective work done for the growth of the game in our state.”
Complete information about the 2017 Ouimet Memorial Tournament can be found at www.mgalinks.org under the “Championships” tab.
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2018 OUIMET MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Championship Division *
Category #1
Past Ouimet Memorial Champions
(regardless of state/club affiliation)
Category #2
Top ten (10) scorers and ties in the 2017 Ouimet Memorial Tournament
Category #3
2017 MGA Individual Champions, if eligible
Open - Low (MGA) Amateur
Amateur
Junior Amateur
Amateur Public Links
Mid-Amateur
Category #4
2018 MGA Individual Champions, if eligible
Open - Low (MGA) Amateur
Amateur
Category #5
2017 MGA Amateur Semi-Finalists
Category #6
2018 MGA Amateur Semi-Finalists
Category #7
Top three (3) scorers and ties in the 2017 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship
Category #8
Top three (3) scorers and ties in the 2017 MGA Amateur Public Links Championship
Category #9
Top three (3) scorers and ties in the 2017 MGA Junior Amateur Championship
Category #10
Top five (5) MGA scorers and ties in the 2017 NEGA Amateur Championship
Category #11
2017 U.S. Open Local/Sectional, U.S. Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Junior Amateur qualifiers
(MGA competitors only)
Category #12
The top ten (10) finishers and ties from the 2017 MGA Player of the Year standings, if eligible. Additional exemptions may be awarded based on the 2017 MGA Player of the Year standings (in order) to fill the field, as needed.
Category #13
Top five (5) finishers and ties in the 2017 MGA Junior Player of the Year standings
Category #14
The individual champion from the 2017 MIAA Division 1, 2 & 3 State Championships, if eligible
Category #15
The low MGA competitor from the 2017 Ell Championship & 2018 ISL Kingman Bowl Tournament, if eligible.
Category #16
2018 Hornblower Memorial Champion, if eligible
Category #17
Top four (4) MGA affiliated finishers in the 2018 U.S. Challenge Cup – Francis Ouimet Junior Invitational
Category #18
Host Club Exemption (4.4 H.I. or less)
(1 per host site)
2018 OUIMET MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Lowery Division *
Category #1
Past Ouimet Memorial Tournament Lowery Division/Championship Division Champions, if eligible
(regardless of state/club affiliation)
Category #2
Top five (5) scorers and ties in the 2017 Ouimet Memorial Tournament (Lowery Division)
Category #3
2017 MGA Individual Champions, if eligible
Senior Amateur
Super Senior Amateur
Category #4
Top five (5) scorers and ties in the 2017 MGA Senior Amateur Championship
Category #5
Top three (3) scorers and ties in the 2017 MGA Super Senior Amateur Championship
Category #6
Top five (5) MGA scorers and ties in the 2017 NEGA Senior Amateur Championship
Category #7
2017 U.S. Senior Open, Senior Amateur qualifiers
(MGA competitors only)
Category #8
The top ten (10) finishers and ties from the 2017 MGA Senior Player of the Year standings, if eligible. Additional exemptions may be awarded based on the 2017 MGA Senior Player of the Year standings (in order) to fill the field, as needed.
Category #9
2017 Senior Hornblower Memorial Champion, if eligible
Category #10
Host Club Exemption (8.0 H.I. or less)
(1 per host site)
2018 OUIMET MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Women's Division *
Category #1
Past Ouimet Memorial Tournament Women's Division Champions, if eligible
(regardless of state/club affiliation)
Category#2
WGAM/MGA Amateur Champions of the last ten (10) years
Category #3
Top three (3) scorers and ties in the 2017 Ouimet Memorial Tournament Women's Division
Category#4
2017 WGAM Individual Champions, if eligible
Amateur
Baker Trophy
Junior
Grace Keyes Cup
Category#5
2017 WGAM Amateur Semi-Finalists
Category #6
Low WGAM scorer and ties in the 2017 NEWGA Championship
Category #7
2017 U.S. Women's Amateur, Girls' Junior, Women's Mid- Amateur, Senior Women's Amateur qualifiers
(MGA competitors only)
Category#8
The top five (5) finishers and ties from the 2017 WGAM Player of the Year standings, if eligible. Additional exemptions awarded based on the 2017 WGAM Player of the Year standings (in order) to fill the field, as needed.
Category #9
The top three (3) finishers and ties from the 2017 MIAA Girls' Golf State Championship, if eligible
Category #10
Top MGA affiliated finisher in the 2018 U.S. Challenge Cup - Francis Ouimet Junior Invitational
Category #11
Host Club Exemption (14.0 H.I. or less)
(1 per host site)
* The MGA Championship Committee reserves the right to change, amend or modify all or any part of the exempt categories as necessary.
