Qualifying Champions Alternate Information

Revised 7/23/2022

Alternate Procedure - When Accepting "& Ties"

How Does the FSGA Allocate Qualifying Spots?

In order to determine the number of qualifying spots allocated to each qualifying site after the close of entries, the following procedure is used:

• The number of exempt players is subtracted from the total number in the Championship field to determine the resulting number of spots available through qualifying.

• Qualifying spots are then proportionately allocated by the number of players at each site. For example, a site that has 20 players attempting to qualify will have twice the number of spots as a site that has 10 players attempting to qualify. Approximatley 2.5 spots per site are deducted to accommodate "& Ties" for the last qualifying spot.

How Can I get into the Championship as an Alternate?

There are 3 possible scenarios that would give an alternate the opportunity to get into the Championship depending on different circumstances.

Qualifying spots & ties - When using "& ties" at qualifying, and the number of individuals or sides qualified for the Championship is greater than the Championship's maximum field size, withdrawn individuals or sides will not be filled until the field is under the  Championship's maximum field size. 

• Alternate positions will be determined by the recommended USGA Tie Breaking Method: Comparing the gross score from the last 9 holes (holes 10-18), last 6 holes (13-18), last 3 holes (16-18), last hole (18), and if still tied a coin flip. This method will be used for the following Championship qualifiers: Senior Amateur, Florida Senior Open, Amateur, Florida Open, Mid-Amateur, and Four-Ball. 

1. Qualified Player Withdraws

If a player that has qualified for the Championship withdraws, the next alternate from the same qualifying location will immediately be called and given the opportunity to replace the withdrawn player. If that alternate cannot fill the spot, the next alternate from the same qualifying location will be called and given the opportunity to replace the withdrawn player. Essentially, the open spot belongs to that qualifying site.

If a player that has qualified for the Championship withdraws, and there are no more alternates available from the same qualifying location, that spot is reallocated by the reallotment list. (see below)

The FSGA staff will attempt to contact alternates up until at least 5:00 PM the day prior to the first round.

2. Exempt Player Withdraws

If an exempt player withdraws from a Championship, that spot is reallocated by the Reallotment List (see below).

3. On-site Alternate

You may show up at the Championship to stand-by if you are an alternate. If a player either withdraws late or no-shows, the site from which the withdrawing or no-showing player qualified will be identified and the spot will be filled by the highest ranking alternate standing by from that site. Should there be no alternate from that site standing by, the spot will be filled by the highest ranking alternate standing by from the next site on the reallotment list.

If the withdrawing or no-showing player was exempt from qualifying, the spot will be filled by the highest ranking alternate standing by from the next site on the reallotment list.

On-site alternates must check-in with an FSGA Official, inform that person he is an on-site alternate and provide a cell phone number for contacting. When a Championship is held over two courses separate from each other, the alternate should choose which course to be an on-site alternate at.

*When all alternates from qualifying sites have been exhausted, the FSGA reserves the right to create a pool of players that missed earning alternate status by one shot, to fill an opening in the Championship. This "pool" of players will be seeded by lot and will not be considered an on-site alternate.*

What is the Reallotment List and how is it used?

The Reallotment List is the ranking of qualifying sites and is used when filling open spots in the field after all qualifying has concluded or an exempt player has withdrawn. The site rank is determined by taking number of players that qualified, including the players that qualified by the "& Ties" method and dividing it by how many players teed off in a qualifying site. (see example below)

The purpose of the Reallotment List is to make all qualifying sites as equal as possibile, come time of the championship, when considering the percentage of players qualified.

After all qualifying sites have concluded, if the field is not filled through the "& Ties" method, the Reallotment List is used to fill the field. The Reallotment List is recalculated after every open spot is filled.

If an exempt player withdraws, or a site is not able to fill a qualifying spot from its alternates list, the spot is then reallocated to the next site on the reallotment list. After a spot is assigned to a site by the reallotment list, the Reallotment List is recalculated and the ranking of sites may change. In the simplistic example in the above table, Site A would continue to be ranked 1st on the Reallotment List until it's percentage of players qualified equals or exceeds Site B's. Essentially, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th alternates from Site A would have priority over the 1st alternate from Site B when using the Reallotment List in the above example.

Alternate Procedure - Amateur Match Play Championship 

How Does the FSGA Allocate Qualifying Spots?

In order to determine the number of qualifying spots allocated to each qualifying site after the close of entries, the following procedure is used:

• The number of exempt players is subtracted from the total number in the Championship field to determine the resulting number of spots available through qualifying.

• Qualifying spots are then proportionately allocated by the number of players at each site. For example, a site that has 20 players attempting to qualify will have twice the number of spots as a site that has 10 players attempting to qualify.

How Can I get into the Championship as an Alternate?

There are 3 possible scenarios that would give an alternate the opportunity to get into the Championship depending on different circumstances.

• A playoff will be implemented to determine the last qualifying spot and alternate positions for Amateur Match Play qualifying and Boys' Junior qualifying. 

1. Qualified Player Withdraws

If a player that has qualified for the Championship withdraws, the next alternate from the same qualifying location will immediately be called and given the opportunity to replace the withdrawn player. If that alternate cannot fill the spot, the next alternate from the same qualifying location will be called and given the opportunity to replace the withdrawn player.

If a player that has qualified for the Championship withdraws, and there are no more alternates available from the same qualifying location, that spot is reallocated by the reallotment list. (see below)

2. Exempt Player Withdraws

If an exempt player withdraws from a Championship, that spot is reallocated by the reallotment list.

3. On-site Alternate

You may show up at the Championship to stand-by if you are an alternate. If a player either withdraws late or no-shows, the site from which the withdrawing or no-showing player qualified will be identified and the spot will be filled by the highest ranking alternate standing by from that site. Should there be no alternate from that site standing by, the spot will be filled by the highest ranking alternate standing by from the next site on the reallotment list.

If the withdrawing or no-showing player was exempt from qualifying, the spot will be filled by the highest ranking alternate standing by from the next site on the reallotment list.

*When all alternates from qualifying sites have been exhausted, the FSGA reserves the right to create a pool of players that were either in a playoff for an alternate position or missed earning alternate status by one shot, to fill an opening in the Championship. This "pool" of players will be seeded by lot and will not be considered an on-site alternate.*

What is the reallotment list and how is it used?

The reallotment list is a list of qualifying sites established to determine the ranking of each site. The sites are ranked according to the effect of rounding on the number of spots allocated. The site that was rounded down the most is first on the reallotment list and the site that was rounded up the most is last on the reallotment list. (see example below)

If an exempt player withdraws, or a site is not able to fill a qualifying spot from its alternates list, the spot is then reallocated to the next site on the reallotment list. After a spot is assigned to a site by the reallotment list, that site then goes to the bottom of the reallotment list. If a site exhausts its available alternates, it is removed from the reallotment list.  

Exception: Boys Junior Only

All alternates remain within their own age division only; regardless of availability. For example, a 13-15 year age alternate has no standing in the 16-18 age division and would not be called to fill an opening in the 16-18 age division.