State Am set for Suffolk

The Virginia State Golf Association has released its schedule of tournaments and qualifiers for the upcoming season.

The men's "majors" - the State Amateur and the SunTrust State Open - occupy their usual slots in June and July.

Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk is the venue for the State Amateur (June 23-27). The club, situated at the confluence of the James and Nansemond rivers, opened in 1964. It played host to the State Am in 1975, when Curtis Strange won, and in 1982, when Jeff Horn defeated John Cuomo in an all-Richmond final. Another Richmonder, Robert Friend, was the qualifying medalist that year.

Architect Tom Clark guided an extensive makeover in 2003-04. Cedar Point was the site for last year's VSGA Four-Ball Championship.

The SunTrust State Open (July 16-19) returns to Independence Golf Club in Midlothian for the third consecutive year. The first two years have produced scintillating finishes. Amateur Roger Newsom won last year in a four-hole playoff with pro Chip Sullivan.

The Four-Ball Championship is set for Chatmoss Country Club in Martinsville (May 8-9) for the first time. The State Mid-Amateur is Oct. 9-11 at Spring Creek Golf Club in Gordonsville.

The Country Club of Virginia's Westhampton Course is home for the third edition of the State Senior Open on Sept. 24-25. The tournament is open to amateurs and professionals 50 and over.

Nonexempt amateurs must qualify for the State Amateur, State Open, State Senior Open, Four-Ball and the boys State Junior. This is the first year zone qualifiers will be used to fill the Four-Ball field.

Senior amateurs (55-over) make a first-time appearance at a newly renovated Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach on Aug. 24-28 for the State Senior Amateur. The State Senior has been held at The Homestead the past five years.

The boys State Junior (ages 18-under) will make its fourth appearance at the Country Club of Petersburg on July 27-29.

The women's State Amateur is July 6-10 at Danville Country Club, and the Senior State Am is at The Homestead on July 27-31. Loudoun Golf and Country Club is the venue for the girls State Junior.

Visit the VSGA's Web site, http://www.vsga.org, for the complete schedules and information on the popular one-day tournaments and VIP Card.

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