Pinehurst Resort is continuing a determined effort to attract the best amateur golfers in the world to the North & South Amateur Championships held here each summer and as a result has modified the schedule and qualification system.

In addition, all stroke play and match play rounds will be conducted on famed Pinehurst No. 2.

The changes affect the Men's Championship, held since 1901 at Pinehurst, and the Women's Championship, held since 1903 at the famed resort. Major changes include:

n Reduction in championship length: Both championships will begin Tuesday with a one-day stroke play qualifier and finish Saturday with a 36-hole final match, a change from the previous Monday-Sunday format.

n Stroke play qualification: A field of 96 will be determined by invitation by Pinehurst, in keeping with the championship's historic nature as an invitational. Amateur and collegiate rankings, performance in past North & South Championships and other amateur events will be among the consideration factors for invitations.

n Match play composition: The field of 64 will consist of last year's champion (assuming the No. 1 seed), the 30 top-ranked amateur players as of May 22, 2009, (exempt from stroke play qualifying), and the 33 lowest scores from Tuesday's qualifier.

n Match play schedule: Match play will consist of one round on Wednesday, two rounds each on Thursday and Friday, and a 36-hole final match on Saturday.

n Venue: All stroke play and match play rounds for both the men's and women's events will be played on Pinehurst No. 2, site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur and 2014 U.S. Open Championships. Stroke play rounds in previous years have been held on No. 4 and No. 8.

Revised dates for the 109th Men's North & South Amateur Championship are June 30-July 4, 2009, and the 107th Women's North & South Amateur Championship will be contested July 14-18, 2009.

Players interested in more information should call Pinehurst Tournament Director Justin Meyers, at 235-8088 or visit Pinehurst.com.

"The changes in this year's championship better reflect the event's history," said Pinehurst Director of Golf Chad Campbell. "We're being more selective in the match play field to ensure the highest-ranked players have a chance to compete. The new schedule should benefit players in allowing for easier travel between events."

Matt Savage, of Florida State University, the 2008 champion, is expected to be in the match play field for the 2009 championship. Savage defeated Jamie Lovemark on the 40th hole of last year's final to claim the coveted Putterboy Trophy.

In addition to the North & South Amateur Champion-ships, held annually at Pinehurst since 1901, Pinehurst has previously served as the site of the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1962 and 2008 and the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 1989. It will welcome back the U.S. Open for a third time in 2014.

Information for this article was provided by Janeen Driscoll, communications manager of Pinehurst Resorts.