Cap raised on senior Amateur earnings

NEW SENIOR AMATEUR

Senior Amateur Exception. A member may apply for Senior Amateur status if at the time of the application:  (A) the member has reached 60 years of age; (B) has less than $200,000 in lifetime earnings; AND (C) meets all non-monetary requirements for amateur status stated in NCHA rules. A person applying for amateur classification under this exception shall obtain a Senior Amateur Exception Application from the NCHA membership department, complete the application, have it notarized and signed by a director and return the application to the NCHA office for review by the Non Pro Amateur Review Committee.  If the member is granted Senior Amateur Status, the amateur eligibility cap will be raised to $200,000. The LAE and Weekend split increase from $50,000/$50,000 to $100,000/$100,000.  At the end of the point year in which the member reaches $100,000 in winnings in LAE events, he/she will no longer be eligible to compete as an amateur in those events. At the end of the point year in which the member reaches $100,000 in winnings in weekend events, he/she will no longer be eligible to compete as an amateur in those events. At the end of the point year in which the member reaches $200,000 in lifetime earnings, he/she will no longer be eligible for Amateur status.  The applicant can appeal any adverse decision of the Non Pro Amateur Review Committee to the Executive Committee, whose decision will be final and binding.

Any person applying for amateur status  under the rule or any rule exceptions shall also provide  the NCHA any and all additional information as the NCHA may request related to documenting the status of the applicant. Failure by the applicant to comply with requests for information from the NCHA will result in denial of the application for Amateur status. There is no right to classification as an amateur and this classification may be granted based upon an evaluation of all circumstances considered relevant by the NCHA. The decision on exemption applications shall be made by the Non Pro Amateur Review Committee.  The applicant can appeal any adverse decision of the Non Pro Amateur Review Committee to the Executive Committee, whose decision will be final and binding. 

Examples:  Senior Amateur Status

Rick turned 60 on July 6, 2010.  At the end of the 2010 point year he had $78,500 in eligibility earnings.  Of those earnings $51,500 were in Limited Age eligibility earnings and $27,000 were in Weekend eligibility earnings.  Rick would be eligible for Senior Amateur status, his total eligibility earnings cap will be increased to $200,000 and the split cap would be increased to $100,000 in each the LAE and Weekend so he would be eligible to show in both the LAE and Weekend amateur classes. If Rick exceeds the $100,000 cap in either the LAE or Weekend in given point year he will not be eligible for that division the following point year.  IN the year Rick exceeds $200,000 in total eligibility earnings he will no longer be eligible for Amateur status regardless of age.

Mike turned 60 on July 6, 2010.  At the end of the 2010 point year he had $8,000 in eligibility earnings.  Of those earnings $2,000 were in Limited Age eligibility earnings and $6,000 were in Weekend eligibility earnings.  Mike would be eligible for Senior Amateur status in both Limited Age and Weekend because his earnings were under the $200,000 cap and his Limited Age and Weekend eligibility were both under the $100,000 split cap.

Tom turned 60 on July 6, 2010.  At the end of the 2010 point year he had $108,500 in eligibility earnings. Of those earnings $57,500 were in Limited Age eligibility earnings and $51,000 were in Weekend eligibility earnings.  Tom would be eligible for Senior Amateur status in both Limited Age and Weekend because his earnings were under the $200,000 cap and his Limited Age and Weekend eligibility were both under the $100,000 split cap.

(Retroactive Eligibility Opportunity) Bobby turned 60 on July 6, 2005. He applies for Senior Amateur status at the end of the 2010 point year at which time he has $252,000 in eligibility earnings.  Bobby would not be eligible for Senior Amateur status as he has exceeded the $200,000 extended cap.

(Retroactive Eligibility Opportunity) Steve turned 60 on July 6, 2005. He applies for Senior Amateur status at the end of the 2010 point year at which time he has $152,000 in eligibility earnings.  Of those earnings $102,000 were in Limited Age eligibility earnings and $50,000 were in Weekend eligibility earnings. Steve would be eligible for Senior Amateur status as he has not exceeded the $200,000 extended cap however he would only be eligible to show in the weekend division as he has already exceeded the $100,000 extended cap for Limited Age.