CORAOPOLIS — The first of two WPGA Open Championship Qualifying rounds will be held Monday at Montour Heights Country Club.
The 59-player field will battle for 22 spots in the 123rd WPGA Open Championship, set for July 13-15 at Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo. Three alternate spots will be secured on Monday, as well.
The qualifying round is 18 holes of stroke play. Play will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the first tee, with the final group teeing off at 11:40 a.m.
The WPGA Open Championship is available for qualifying and exempt amateur and professional players, and is one of the longest running championships in the country, dating back to the first year of the WPGA’s existence, 1899.
The competition has been contested each year, with the exception of during World War I and World War II.
Past winners include Fred Brand, Sr., Eben Byers, William C. Fownes, Jock Hutchinson, Ed Furgol, Ted Luther, Sam Parks, Jim Masserio, Lew Worsham, Arnold Palmer, Kevin Shields, Nathan Smith, Steve Wheatcroft, Roy Vucinich, Mark Goetz and Neal Shipley.
Winners of the WPGA Open Championship have gone on to claim six major championships and numerous USGA national championships.
A year ago, Connor Schmidt claimed his third WPGA major championship victory by winning the Open at Sewickley Heights Golf Club.
The WPGA uses two qualifying rounds to set the field. The championship is a three-round, 54-hole contest over three days.
Willowbrook will host the WPGA Open Championship for the second time, having done so in 2003, as well.
One more Open qualifying is set for June 16 at Diamond Run Golf Club.
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
