|
Overview
The Nebraska Junior Golf Association is a program designed to
offer competitive golf opportunities to boys and girls of various
ages and skill levels throughout the state of Nebraska.
Traditionally, membership
in the organization focused on junior golfers who had a desire
to compete at the highest level. These members were eligible to
participate in two state championships annually; the Nebraska
Junior Amateur and Nebraska Junior Match Play for boys and the
Nebraska Girls' Amateur and Nebraska Girls' Match Play for girls.
In addition, the top twelve boys and girls were invited to participate
in the North-South Junior Cup Matches which completed the summer
season.
Beginning
in 2008, the NJGA will expand its offerings to include additional
competitive opportunities in the form of regional tournaments
for golfers of various ages and skill levels. Six regions have
been established based on counties, each offering three 18-hole
events.
In addition,
there will now be two levels of membership from which to choose:
The Championship
Membership provides junior golfers eligibility to participate
in two junior state championships, select team competitions and
regional events. Members will receive a bag tag, Rules of Golf
booklet, a membership gift and a NGA membership including a USGA
Handicap Index and subscription to Nebraska Golfer magazine.
The Regional
Membership provides eligibility to particpate in regional
competitions only. Members at this level will receive a bag tag,
Rules of Golf booklet and a NGA membership including a Handicap
Index and subscription to Nebraska Golfer magazine.
Eligibility
NJGA membership is open to all boys and girls, age 12 up to their
19th birthday or the day they enter college. Participants must
be a
resident of the Nebraska.
Championships
The Nebraska
Junior Golf Association conducts two state championships each
for boys and girls with entry forms available by linking to the
junior competitions section on the menu above left. These championships
include:
Nebraska
Girls' Match Play Championship
Following an 18-hole stroke play qualifier players are flighted
for the match play portion of the tournament. The championship
bracket is made up of the low 16 qualifiers. All other flights
are 8-player brackets.
Nebraska
Junior Match Play Championship
Following an 18-hole stroke play qualifier the field is reduced
to 32 golfers for the match play portion. The tournament concludes
with a 36-hole championship match on the final day.
Nebraska
Girl's Amateur Championship
36-hole stroke play championship.
Nebraska
Junior Amateur Championship
54-hole stroke play championship with a cut made to the low 45
golfers and ties following the second round.
Regional
Competitions
Players in
regional competitions will be grouped by handicap as opposed to
age. This is different than most junior golf events and tournaments
but we feel that it is more fun to compete against players of
similar ability than to be grouped with some players just because
you are the same age. If you want to compete with the really good
players and you work hard at your game so that you can lower your
handicap you won't have to wait until you are a certain age. If
you are 16 or 17 and new to the game, you won't have to go up
against players who are capable of shooting scores around par.
You will be competing with players who play the game at a similar
level.
The boys will
play in three divisions: Gold - less than 9.5 USGA Handicap Index®,
Silver - between 9.5 and 18.4 and Bronze - 18.5 or higher Index.
The girls will have two divisions: Gold - less than 15.5 and Silver
15.5 or higher. The Gold divisions will have two age groups 12-15
and 16-18. The other divisions will not have age groups, but will
have net winners as well as gross.
Players who
win a particular division will be moved to the next higher division
for the remainder of the year. This is intended to reward players
whose game might be improving at a rate faster than their handicap
can update to reflect their new ability.
Since many
junior golfers won't have handicaps when they join the NJGA, most
tournaments will have an open division where all players without
handicaps can compete until their handicap is established. If
you post all the rounds you play, your handicap will be established
faster and you will find it more fun to play with your friends
as well as in competitions.
The overall
winner of any regional tournament will be the player who shoots
the lowest 18-hole gross score.
The overall
winner and the first, second and third place finishers in each
division or age group (including the open division) will be awarded
medals similar to the medals that are awarded at NJGA championships.
The top three net finishers in each division with net competitions
will be awarded certificates.
The
tournament field at each regional event will be limited to 90
players. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Tournament
sites and dates are available by linking to the junior competitions
tab above left.
Regional
Boundaries
Metro - (Cass,
Sarpy, Douglas, Washington, Dodge)
Capital -
(Richardson, Pawnee, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Seward, Lancaster,
Saunders, Otoe, Nemaha, Johnson)
Lewis and
Clark - (Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Colfax, Butler, Polk, Platte,
Nance, Boone, Antelope, Holt, Rock, Brown, Keya Paha, Boyd, Knox,
Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Wayne, Pierce, Madison)
Prairie -
(Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Greeley, Valley, Custer, Sherman,
Howard, Merrick, Hamilton, York, Fillmore, Thayer, Nuckolls, Webster,
Franklin, Harlan, Phelps, Gosper, Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, Clay,
Adams, Kearney)
Frontier -
(Furnas, Red Willow, Hitchcock, Dundy, Chase, Hayes, Frontier,
Lincoln, Perkins, Keith, Logan, McPherson, Arthur, Thomas, Hooker,
Grant, Cherry)
Panhandle
- (Dawes, Sheridan, Sioux, Box Butte, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Banner,
Kimball, Cheyenne, Deuel, Garden)
Alternate
Regional Sites
Players may
compete in regional events outside of their region if availability
exists. Participation in events outside of one's region does not
apply towards selection to the all-region team.
Select
Team Events
Information is available
regarding select team events by linking to the appropriate tab
in the menu above left. Events include the NJGA's North-South
Junior Cup, the NGA's Nebraska-Kansas Junior Cup and NWAGA's Four
State Team Competition.
Fees
Memberships:
Championship Level - $40
Regional Level - $20
Events:
Junior State Championships - $50
Regional Events - $12
Entry Forms
Pre-registration
is REQUIRED for all events. All players must submit their entry
form completed in full to the Nebraska Junior Golf Association
office at 6618 South 118th Street, Omaha, NE 68137. Entries received
past the deadline and those incomplete will be returned.
Refunds
Membership
dues will not be refunded at any time. Entry fees will only be
refunded if the regional event becomes full. There are NO refunds
for withdrawals for any reason.
Code of
Conduct
The NJGA provides golf activities to develop character and life
values of integrity, honesty, self-discipline and competitive
spirit. We require good conduct and proper sportsmanship by all
players and spectators at all tournaments and events.
|
