In order to receive an exemption, players are required to submit an entry prior to the closing date and must meet all eligibility requirements unless indicated otherwise. An e-mail invitation will be sent when exemptions are determined to remind players to submit their entries.
NCGA Exemptions From Qualifying
For all individual events, all past champions prior to 2004 are exempt for life. Champions from 2004 on are exempt for 10 years, and champions in senior events for 5 years.
Four-Ball Championship - The top 10 teams and ties from the preceding year, with the same partner. Both partners must meet eligibility requirements. Each exempt team is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Master Division Championship - The top 10 and ties from the preceding year. The following current NCGA Champions are exempt if they meet age eligibility requirements: Public Links, Valley Amateur, Amateur Stroke Play and Amateur Match Play. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Master Division Four-Ball Championship - The top 10 teams and ties from the preceding year, with the same partner. Both partners must meet eligibility requirements. Since there is no qualifying for the Championship, the exemption is for a spot in the championship field. Each exempt team is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Public Links Championship - The top 4 finishers in the Championship Flight from the preceding year. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Amateur Match Play Championship - Players who reached the quarter-finals in the preceding year, the top 10 and ties from the preceding year’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the following current NCGA Champions: Public Links, Senior, Junior, Master Division, Valley Amateur, Valley Senior and players who reached the quarter-finals of the CGA in the current year. Exemptions are also granted to the top 15 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Points List. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Amateur Stroke Play Championship – The top 10 and ties from the preceding year, players who reached the quarter-finals of the Amateur Match Play of the preceding year and the following current NCGA Champions: Public Links, Senior, Junior, Master Division, Valley Amateur and Valley Senior Amateur. Players who reached the quarter-finals of the CGA in the previous year are also exempt. Exemptions are also granted to the top 15 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Points List. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Valley Amateur Championship - All past champions of the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley, the top 10 and ties from the preceding year and the following current NCGA Champions: Public Links, Junior, Master Division, Amateur Stroke Play and Amateur Match Play. Exemptions are also granted to the top 10 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Points List. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Valley Amateur Senior Championship - All past champions of the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley, the top 5 and ties from the preceding year and the current CGA Senior and NCGA Senior Champions. Exemptions are also granted to the top 5 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Senior Points List. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Senior Championship - The top 5 and ties from the preceding year, the Senior Valley Amateur Champion, the Senior Match Play Champion and the CGA Senior Champion. Exemptions are also granted to the top 15 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Senior Points List. Each exempt player is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Senior Four-Ball Championship - The top 5 teams and ties from the preceding year, with same partner. Both partners must meet eligibility requirements. Since there is no qualifying for the Championship, the exemption is for a spot in the championship field. Each exempt team is required to submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Women’s and Senior Women’s Amateur Championship: All past NCGA Women’s and Senior Women’s Amateur Champions receive a 10-year exemption.
NCGA Junior Player Exemptions
All exempt players must meet tournament eligibility requirements and submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Junior Championship - Past overall boys and girls champions. Past flight winners. Five players from the previous year’s JGANC Points List not already exempt. All junior CGA Championship qualifiers. USGA Junior Amateur qualifiers who are not already exempt. Northern California junior residents listed in the top 50 of the Golfweek rankings. Overall winners of any NCGA Junior Tour championship in the 12 months prior to the championship. Presidential Invitation: The committee may select five players who do not fall into any of the previous categories.
Northern California Junior Players Championship - Previous year’s NCGA Junior champions. Flight winners of the NCGA Junior Championship. Top five players from the previous year’s JGANC Points Lists. All players qualifying for any USGA Championship. Presidential Invitation: The Committee may select five players who do not fall into any of the previous categories.
NCGA Junior Tour Championships - Any winner of a Junior Tour Event in the previous 12 months. Past overall boys and girls champions or flight winners from the NCGA Junior Championship, Northern California Junior Players Championship, the CGA Championship or any USGA championship.
CGA Exemptions From Qualifying
For all individual events, past champions prior to 2003 are exempt for life. Champions from 2003 on are exempt for 10 years.
Amateur Championship - The preceding year’s Medalist, players who reached the round of 32 in the preceding year, the following current NCGA Champions: Amateur Match Play, Amateur Stroke Play, Junior, Master Division, Public Links and Valley Amateur. Exemptions are also granted to the Northern California and California High School Champions and the top 10 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Points List. Each exempt player is required to meet eligibility requirements and submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Senior Amateur - The top seven and ties from the preceding year and the top five and ties from the current NCGA Senior Championship and the Senior Match Play Championship. Exemptions are also granted to the top 10 players on the preceding year’s final NCGA Senior Points List. Each exempt player is required to meet eligibility requirements and submit an entry prior to the closing date.
Team Selection Criteria
Because of various intercollegiate eligibility concerns, current members of any intercollegiate golf team will not be considered for any NCGA selected team events during the school year. This is to prevent any intercollegiate golfer from jeopardizing their intercollegiate eligibility.
CGA North Team - 6 Players
Defending CGA Champion (if NCGA)
Current NCGA Amateur Match Play Champion
Current NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Champion
Captain’s Choice (1)
CGA Senior North Team - 4 Players
Defending CGA Senior Champion (if NCGA)
Current NCGA Senior Champion
Captain’s Choice (1)
Remainder of CGA and CGA Senior Team will be selected from an abridged Points List and Senior Points List respectively which starts immediately following the Four-Ball Championship in the prior year through the Four-Ball Championship in the current year.
Hanna - Wehrman Cup Matches - 10 Players
Current CGA Champion (if NCGA)
Current NCGA Amateur Match Play Champion
Current NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Champion
Captain’s Choice (2)
Staedler-Jetter Senior Cup Matches - 14 Players
Current CGA Senior Champion (if NCGA)
Current NCGA Senior Champion
Captain’s Choice (2)
*Super Seniors (4) selected by Team Captain
*Age 65 or older
Remainder of Hanna-Wehrman and Staedler-Jetter Senior Team will be selected from the Points List and Senior Points List respectively.
PCGA Team - 3 Players
Selected by PCGA Trustees with concurrence of NCGA President
USGA State Team - 3 players
(Odd Years)
Current CGA Champion
NCGA & SCGA Amateur Champions
Seaver Cup - 8 Players (2 Seniors)
(Even Years)
Selected by NCGA members of the CGA Board of Directors