Eligibility
The California State Fair Men's Amateur Championship (SFC) is primarily an exempt player event for 144 tournament scratch amateur golfers. Non-exempt amateurs are eligible to qualify via the Sacramento City or County Championships or through the US Amateur qualifying. See qualifying details below.

Entry forms for the SFC can be obtained from this website by clicking State Fair Men's Entry Form (in pdf format).

Exemptions
Amateurs who meet one or more of the following categories are exempt from qualifying: (points/ranking exemptions at receipt of entry or 8/7/09, whichever is higher) *blank entry filed for spots reserved.

Sacramento Golf Council Tournament Exemptions
• Prior State Fair Finish Men's Championship
(top 30 in '08, top 10 in '07, top 5 in '06, 2nd in '05 & '04, Champion since ‘99)
• '09 and ‘08 State Fair Junior Champion (blank entry filed for '08)
• ‘08 State Fair Masters Champion
• Prior Finish in the Sacramento County Men's Championship
(top 10 in '09, top 3 in '08, '07 Champion)
• Prior Finish in the Sacramento City Men's Championship
(top 10 in '09, top 3 in '08, '07 Champion)
• ‘08 Sacramento Golf eClub Champion

Amateur Ranking & Distinction Exemptions
• Top 500 on the Golfweek Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (as of date of entry)
• Member of a Walker Cup and/or Top 10 World Amateur Team since 2000
• Any male exempt from qualifying for any '09 or '08 USGA Championship
• '08& '09 US or British Open contestants (any amateur in the national fields)

Collegiate Ranking & Distinction Exemptions (GCAA - Golf Coaches Assn of America)
• Top 100 on Golfweek or Golfstat Collegiate D1 final 08/09 ranking (after '09 D1 Nationals)
• Top 25 on Golfstat Collegiate D2 final 08/09 ranking (after '09 D2 Nationals)
• Top 10 on Golfstat Collegiate D3 final 08/08 ranking (after '09 D3 Nationals)
• Top 10 NAIA Players on Golfstat Cup Collegiate 08/09 ranking (after '09 NAIA Nationals)
• '09 NCAA (GCAA) Div I All Americans (or Honorable Mention plus all named to All Region teams)
• '08 NCAA (GCAA) Div I All-Americans (first, second or third team)
• '09 NCAA (GCAA) Div II First or Second Team All Americans
• '09 NCAA (GCAA) Div III or NAIA First Team All Americans

Junior Ranking & Distinction Exemptions
• '08 AJGA First or Second Team All-Americans
• Top 20 on Golfweek Boys, AJGA or Junior Scoreboard Rankings (at time of entry)
• '09 First Tee of Greater Sacramento Tour Low Stroke Average (as of entry deadline)

Other
• Tournament Committee Merit Exemption (for other "scratch players of note")

Qualifying
Non-exempt entrants seeking to qualify for the SFC shall either be entered to qualify for the '09 US Amateur Championship (20 spots maximum) or shall be entered in one of the following tournaments in Sacramento:
· Sacramento City Championship, an NCGA 150 point event on June 13th & 14th / 20 spots maximum
· Sacramento County Championship, an NCGA 150 point event on July 11th & 12th / 20 spots maximum

This method of qualifying significantly reduces the cost and time committed to conducting independent qualifying, facilitates player convenience by providing a way to "kill two birds with one stone" with their limited time and resources, and maintains wide & convenient access to the greater Sacramento based amateur. No golf organization worldwide has more experience in conducting tournament qualifying than the USGA and utilizing this option for SFC qualifying enables any amateur in the USA the opportunity to conveniently qualify for the SFC close to home.

SFC qualifiers must submit an Official SFC entry that is received by the State Fair Championship Tournament Director (3200 Northview Dr., Sacramento CA, 95833) before 1st round of qualifying. In other words, you cannot play in a designated SFC qualifying event first, then enter the SFC after the fact claiming you met the qualifying standard but not an applicable exemption. Additionally, each qualifier entry must designate only one of the qualifying venue options. Multiple qualifying chances are not allowed.  SFC qualifiers failing to qualify for the US Amateur may still succeed in qualifying for the SFC. U.S. Amateur Contestants finishing in the top 30% of their respective USAM field will qualify for the State Fair.

Qualifying spots are available via qualifying for any entrant who finishes among the top 40 in either the Sacramento City or County Championships, and has paid the $25 qualifying fee.

Successful SFC qualifiers must forward entry fee balance due two weeks after their qualifier ($25 to enter qualifying plus $225 more equals total entry fee of $250). Alternates are, first, excess exempt entries received (after first 84) prior to the entry deadline, then players failing to qualify by one stroke and so on. Alternate priority into the SFC will otherwise be determined based on the alternate's tournament track record. The Tournament Committee (TC) decisions on SFC alternate selections are final.

Click USGA to download and print an entry for the US Amateur Championship or to enter online. The SFC is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the USGA or the US Amateur Championship.