WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
» The Spencer-Wilkinson Benefit Tournament will
be moved from April to May. The hope is that this
change will lead to better course conditions, more
participation and thus a larger contribution to the
Spencer-Wilkinson Scholarship Fund.
» The VSGA Women’s Four-Ball tournament
will be moved from May to June and will now
be considered a Championship (net prizes will
continue to be awarded). The championship will
provide additional player rankings points and has
been moved into the summer to encourage more
participation among junior and college golfers.
» The maximum starting field for the VSGA Senior
Women’s Amateur Championship will increase
from 112 to 128 players. Those who wish to
attempt to qualify for the championship flight
will opt in on the entry form and will have the
earliest starting times for the qualifying round (see
championship entry form for more information).
» Winning team members of each respective
flight at the VSGA Women’s State Team Matches
will receive an individual award. In addition, the
team that wins the overall championship will be
awarded a trophy to display at its club. All players
in the event will receive a gift for participating.
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
» Exemptions have been added to the VSGA
Amateur Championship and Delta Dental State Open
of Virginia for any player that advances through local
qualifying for the current year’s U.S. Open.
» A super senior set of tees will be added for
players age 65 and older competing in the VSGA
Club Championship. There will be three sets of
tee markers at the championship: Regular (49 and
younger); Senior (50-64); and Super Senior (65
and older).
» The entry fee to enter a men’s VSGA
championship qualifier has been reduced to $65
per player (previously $75) to encourage more
VSGA members to participate in VSGA events.
» The VSGA will conduct its first Mid-Senior
Amateur Championship in 2016. The championship, open to VSGA members age 60-64, will
consist of two days of stroke play with the top
eight qualifiers advancing to match play. The event
will be held in conjunction with the Super Senior
Amateur Championship.
VSGA ELIGIBILITY POLICY
» The eligibility policy for VSGA events has been
amended, effective January 1, 2016. This change
allows all VSGA members who have an active
GHIN number issued by a VSGA member club
and who comply fully with USGA Rules of Amateur
Status to compete in VSGA events. Additional
requirements, such as age or gender, will be printed
on the championship entry forms. See VSGA.org
for all other information pertaining to eligibility.
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V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 6
2015 VSGA Award Winners
President’s Award – Don Ryder
Don Ryder, PGA Professional and retired
Director of Golf at the Omni Homestead
Resort, is the recipient of the 2015 VSGA
President’s Award. Don has been a friend of
the VSGA for decades and his service to our
association has been exceptional. During
his tenure as Director of Golf, The Homestead hosted more than 200 VSGA championships as well as the 2004 NCAA Division I
Men’s Golf Championship and the 2009 USGA
Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. An
accomplished player, Don won the 1997 Middle Atlantic PGA Senior Championship. He was awarded the VSGA Service
to Golf Award in 2003. He retired in 2015 after a 42-year career at The
Homestead, but continues to serve the VSGA in a very i \ܝ[