The Regional Commissioners determined this to be unfair since it provided a conflict for some players every year, who wanted to play in both a club tournament AND a masters tournament, and could not do so because they were conducted concurrently.  Therefore, a pattern of alternation was designed so that the Club classifications would play back-to-back same sessions once during a four year Quadrennium; and likewise, in two different years, the age groups would play back-to-back same sessions in the same time period.

     This plan was adopted by the National Championships Division for implementation in 2001.  The Club Classification Tournaments did not alternate in 2002 from 2001, but the age group tournaments did.  For 2003, the age group tournaments will play in the same sessions, i.e., the "0's" in the FIRST SESSION and the "5's" in the SECOND SESSION in 2003.  All tournaments will then alternate together for the 2004 Championships.

     Although this has been announced at all of the Captain's Meetings in conjunction with the USA Open Championship Event, it has become apparent that not everyone is knowledgeable of this plan.  The plan will be reviewed at the 2004 Annual Meetings for the next Quadrennium (2005-2008).  The consensus is that it has provided more equity for more players who elect to play in both a Club Tournament and an Age Group Tournament.

     We have received several inquiries as to whether or not this was a misprint in the information this year, or asking why it was done. The answer is NO, it is not a misprint.  The First Session will include all age group tournaments whose classification end in "0"; the Second Session will include all age group tournaments whose classification ends in "5."