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This year marks the 25th playing of the Alabama State Match Play Championship and the first time that Goose Pond Colony Resort has hosted the State Match Play Championship. JP Groat of Fort Payne won the title in 2025 at Terrapin Hills Country Club. The Championship was first played in 2001 with Will Swift winning the inaugural event. Patton Kizzire holds the record with 2 victories (2003, 2006).
This year marks the 6th playing of the Alabama State Senior Match Play Championship and the first time that Goose Pond Colony Resort has hosted the State Senior Match Play Championship. Shaw Pritchett of Montgomery won the title in 2025 at Terrapin Hills Country Club. The Championship was first played in 2021 with Shaw Pritchett winning the inaugural event. Shaw Pritchett holds the record with 3 victories (2021, 2023, 2025).
25th Alabama State Match Play Championship Facts:
Entries are open to any male amateur golfer who is a legal resident of Alabama, and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at an AGA member club that does not exceed 6.9.
College Student Eligibility: A college student is considered a resident of their parent(s)/guardian(s) “Legal Residency Criteria” as stated in the AGA Tournament Manual unless said student (a) has no dependency on his/her parents; and (b) lives full time in Alabama.
Championship Yardage: 6974 Yards
Course/Slope Rating: 72.6/128
Tournament Format:
- Championship Field Size is 57 players.
- Stroke Play - 36 holes of gross individual stroke play to determine 16 players for match play. 18 holes each day on Thursday and Friday. A tie for the last qualifier’s place will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff.
- Match Play – General numerical draw will be used. For purposes of determining places in the draw, ties in qualifying rounds will be decided by lot.
- In the event of a tied match, (a) the winner will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off on a hole determined by the Committee and (b) the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be decided.
5th Alabama State Senior Match Play Championship Facts:
Entries are open to any male amateur golfer who is a legal resident of Alabama, and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at an AGA member club that does not exceed 9.9 and has reached his 50th birthday by August 6, 2026.
Championship Yardage: 6516 Yards
Course/Slope Rating: 70.9/123
Tournament Format:
- Championship Field Size is 36 players.
- Stroke Play - 36 holes of gross individual stroke play to determine 16 players for match play. 18 holes each day on Thursday and Friday. A tie for the last qualifier’s place will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff.
- Match Play – General numerical draw will be used. For purposes of determining places in the draw, ties in qualifying rounds will be decided by lot.
- In the event of a tied match, (a) the winner will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off on a hole determined by the Committee and (b) the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be decided.
Championship Schedule:
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
All Day: Practice Rounds
8:00am-3:00pm: Player Registration in the Clubhouse Foyer adjacent to the golf shop.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Round 1: 8:00 a.m. start.
18 Holes Stroke Play.
Friday, August 7, 2026
Round 2: 8:00 a.m. start.
18 Holes Stroke Play.
*Field cut to low 16 players for match play.
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Round of 16: 7:30 a.m. tee times off of #1 tee.
Quarterfinals: Tee times off #1 tee as match is finalized.
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Semifinals: 7:30 a.m. tee times off of #1 tee.
Finals: Tee time off of #1 tee as match is finalized.
Awards ceremony immediately following play at scoreboard.
These Championships are conducted by the Alabama Golf Association.
About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA)
The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of 125 member clubs represented by over 33,500 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. A full-time professional staff of seven individuals handles day-to-day activities.
Based in Hoover, the AGA is the USGA's Allied Golf Association in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the World Handicap System including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating, and Rules of Golf & Handicapping education. The AGA annually conducts 24 championships; and team match competitions for men, women, junior
and seniors. The AGA manages the Junior Golf Alabama program that is a joint venture between the AGA and Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section.
In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Scholarship Fund through the Alabama Golf Foundation that is dedicated to assisting young golfers in higher education. Additionally, the Alabama Golf Foundation supports the Youth on Course Alabama program providing facility access to junior golfers and provides funding for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. In 2016, the AGA earned the Gold Tee Award for “Outstanding Tournament Operations – Small Association” by the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).
For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org.
Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-979-1234
alison@alabamagolf.org
