As part of this collaboration, the championships will host two shared qualifying events during the 2026 season. These dual qualifiers will give players the opportunity to earn entry into both the Sunnehanna Amateur Championship and the Southern Amateur Championship through a single competition.
The first dual qualifier will be held on June 1 at the Loonie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, North Carolina, followed by a second dual qualifier on June 14 at the Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Golfers competing in these qualifiers will be playing for spots in both championships, streamlining the qualifying process while expanding access to two of the most respected tournaments in the amateur game.
“As the Southern Golf Association continues its involvement in the Elite Amateur Golf Series, we are always looking for ways to expand opportunities while minimizing additional burdens on players competing in our championships,” said Jeremy Gardner, Executive Director of the Southern Golf Association. “This expanded partnership with the Sunnehanna Amateur will help further elevate both storied events by attracting even more of the world’s top amateur players.”
Both the Sunnehanna Amateur Championship and the Southern Amateur Championship are cornerstone events of the Elite Amateur Golf Series, each with a rich history of identifying future professional talent and providing high-level competitive experiences for the nation’s top amateur players.
John Yerger, Tournament Chairman of the Sunnehanna Amateur Championship, said, “With the tremendous success of the joint qualifier with the Southern Golf Association at Sunnehanna, we saw this as another way to expand opportunities and reduce expenses for players. It’s also another example of how the Elite Amateur Series tournaments are working together for the best interests of amateur golf.”
Additional details regarding registration, field sizes, and qualifying criteria for each event will be released in the coming weeks.
For more information on the Sunnehanna Amateur Championship, visit Sunnehanna website.
For more information on the Southern Amateur Championship, visit Southern Amateur website.
About the Southern Golf Association (SGA)
The Southern Golf Association, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest golf organizations and serves member clubs over a 15-state area. Recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Regional Golf Associations as one of the leaders in the promotion of Amateur Golf, SGA championships are selected for inclusion as criteria for selecting players for USGA and State team competitions. Through the years, SGA Champions have been chosen to represent various state golf associations in selected team competitions, including the Walker Cup and World Amateur. The SGA is host to the Southern Junior Championship as well as the Southern Amateur Championship each year.
For more information about the Southern Golf Association, visit www.southerngolf.org
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Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Southern Golf Association
205-803-6524
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