(This entry criteria applies to AJGA Qualifiers taking place prior to Preview Series tournaments.)
Application Process:
AJGA Qualifiers have a separate application and application window from the corresponding AJGA Tournaments for AJGA members to apply. Qualifier applications are open for approximately 3 weeks, beginning on a Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET and ending on the Friday following the corresponding tournament application deadline, at 3 p.m. ET (Please Note: Friday application deadline is new for 2025). See the Dates to Remember section of each qualifier website to find specific application opening and closing dates.
The order applications are received has no effect on the qualifier field. However, players must apply within this window to be considered for the initial field.
The Preview Series Qualifier field and alternate list will be filled as follows:
Applicants will be ranked according to the number of playing opportunities (Tournament & Qualifier) they have been accepted to or played with the AJGA during the current season – lowest to highest (0,1,2,3,4,...)
Ties will be broken by:
1. Number of AJGA Tournament playing opportunities accepted to or played during the current and previous seasons combined - lowest to highest (0,1,2,3,4,...)
2. Location
- Players from the state of the AJGA Qualifier
- Players from a bordering state of the AJGA Qualifier
- All other locations
3. Graduation year (oldest to youngest)
4. Random Draw
Notes:
- Preview Series Qualifiers are open to all AJGA members, including those who have 2 or more AJGA tournament opportunities in the current and previous season.
- The Preview Series Qualifier is the only method of entry into the corresponding tournament for these players since they are not eligible to apply directly to the tournament field.
- AJGA Qualifier field sizes are typically 78 players (approximately 54 boys, 24 girls). The field size and breakdown are subject to change.
- AJGA Qualifier fields and alternate lists are posted on Monday's (excluding holidays) by 5 pm ET following the initial application window.
- Once the initial field has been posted online, the application may reopen to continue building an alternate list (or to fill available space in the field, if applicable). Space permitting, non-members may apply at this point, and applications (members & non-members) are processed in the order they are received.
- Approximately 10% of the AJGA Qualifier field will qualify into the actual Tournament. The exact number of spots will be posted on-site at the Qualifier. Players who qualify and accept a spot in the tournament do NOT forfeit Performance Based Entry status earned in the AJGA Qualifier.
- Players accepted to a tournament field are allowed to submit an application to a corresponding AJGA Qualifier during the same week. They can also apply at the same time as players not in a tournament field (true qualifier participants). However, priority in the AJGA Qualifier field will first go to true qualifier participants. If space remains in the initial Qualifier field, tournament participants will be allowed to fill remaining spots.
- Tournament participants who apply during the initial application window will be ranked according to the number of playing opportunities (Tournament & Qualifier) they have been accepted to or played with the AJGA this season. Those with the lowest opportunities will have a higher priority. Ties at any step will be broken by Random Draw.
- Tournament participants (including those in a different tournament that week) who compete in an AJGA Qualifier are playing to earn PBE Status only.
- If an AJGA Qualifier alternate list contains both true qualifier and tournament participant alternates, priority will go to true qualifier alternates.
- Performance Based Entry is not used as part of the Qualifier Entry Criteria.
- Starting in 2025, Qualifier application deadlines are Fridays at 3 pm ET (In previous years, Qualifier application deadlines were on Mondays). Please note, applications are NOT first-come first-served.