WPGA - West Penn Open Qualifying

The 2007 West Penn Open overbooked by about forty players, so the Association staff developed a waiting list. We used several criteria to determine half the field. Obviously, nobody likes to be left out. Therefore, we will schedule two qualifying rounds for upcoming Opens, thus providing everyone with a chance to play his way into the Championship.

The Association will develop a list of exempt players, both professionals and amateurs, based on performance in previous West Penn Opens, Tri-State Section, PGA and Western New York Section, PGA money and points lists, winners of WPGA and Pennsylvania GA conducted championships and other categories that will be posted. The exempt list will be similar to the one used in 2005 when the Open was held at Oakmont. Based on the number of entries, the Association reserves the right to exempt additional players or to cancel the qualifiers if the field is small enough that they are not needed. The starting field at the championship will be 120.

Players who are to qualify are welcome to submit evidence of playing ability that would justify an exemption. The committee will not grant an exemption from qualifying simply because dates are inconvenient for an entrant. Playing records trump scheduling problems.

The Association prefers having discussions with players having to qualify as opposed to discussions with players who are (were) on a waiting list.

This change makes the West Penn Open exactly that.