ELLWOOD CITY — Golfers will have an opportunity to earn their way into a national amateur event when an Under Armour Regional Championship comes to Olde Stonewall Golf Club Sept. 21.

Olde Stonewall is one of 12 golf courses nationwide hosting a regional for the Under Armour Tour, now in its fourth season.

“We did this (amateur tour) in a small region on the east coast for a number of years,” Ray Taranto, the tour director, said. “We decided we wanted to expand it to other parts of the country.

“We know there are plenty of avid golfers in the Pittsburgh region and putting a regional there would enable golfers in that part of the country to have access to play.”

Each of the 12 regional qualifiers have four flights — for handicaps 5-under, 6-11, 12-20 and 21-30. The top 15 players from each flight — from each regional — qualify for the Under Armour National Championship June 26-28 of 2020 in Ocean City, Md.

The four flight winners from each regional earn a free national championship package. That package includes three rounds of championship golf at Ocean Pines Golf Club, Ocean City Golf Club and Eagles Landing Golf Club, an opening ceremony dinner, along with an Under Armour gift package valued at $250.

All other national qualifiers must pay an entry fee of $495, which includes all of the above.

The national champion will receive a one-week vacation to Myrtle Beach, golf gifts and a trophy, along with other prizes.

“We had 224 players at last year's national championship,” Taranto said. “Our format allows golfers of all skill levels to compete for a national title.”

Entry fee to play the regional at Olde Stonewall is $150, which includes range balls, greens and cart fees and an Under Armour zip jacket valued at $60.

“It costs $150 to play a round here anyway,” Olde Stonewall golf pro Sean Swidzinski said. “Now a golfer can pay that same price and have a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to play in a national championship, plus getting that nice jacket.

“It's a pretty nice offer and we're anticipating a healthy field of golfers.”

Taranto said he estimates “80 to 100 players” at the Olde Stonewall regional.

“We had 92 at our regional in Maryland,” he said.

Other regionals have already been held this year in Maryland, the Carolinas, Delaware and Chicago. Upcoming regionals will be played in Massachusetts, Virginia, South Florida, Eastern Shore, Nashville and North Florida.

“I'm anticipating a number of golfers locally, of course,” Swidzinski said. “We also have some coming from Cleveland, from Canada and Michigan, along with other middle states.

“It's a one-day, 18-hole round. Anything can happen with a format like that. It will probably come down to who has the best day putting.”

Olde Stonewall became an Under Armour Regional host a couple of years ago through the recommendation of former Butler resident Steve Menz, now a PGA pro in the Ocean City area.

“They were looking for a golf course in the Pittsburgh area to join the tour and Steve thought of us,” Swidzinski said.

“Olde Stonewall is a high quality course and they've been a great host,” Taranto said.

Deadline to enter the regional at Olde Stonewall is Sept. 18. Visit www.thetourua.com or call Olde Stonewall at 724-752-4653 for details.