The EQ CUP standings are based off a player's NET score for each round of play. A returning player from the previous season will have his FACTOR calculated off three types of scoring averages: 1) Previous season's scoring average, 2) Average of player's 8 best rounds in the last 20 events played, 3) Average of player's 4 best rounds in the last 10 events played. New players to the EQ CUP will start with 75% of their scoring average until they reach enough events played to calculate further.
With possible weather-related instances and additional events, there is a minimum of 12 players needed for the tournament to not be cancelled.
The EQ CUP Regular Season features 22 events beginning with the Wrap-Around Event (late in the previous season) and running through to the Crowe's Tournament of Champions at the end of August. Players earn points based on their finish at each tournament, with an emphasis on wins and higher finishes.
EQ CUP points are awarded by finished position as defined in the points distribution tables. In the event of ties, the total points for each tying position will be averaged and that average will be distributed to each player in the tying position.
At the conclusion of the Regular Season, all players with a minimum of 1/3 events played (7), will be eligible for the EQ CUP Playoffs, a series of three events played in the first weeks of September. Points earned in the EQ CUP Regular Season carry over for the three weeks of the EQ CUP Playoffs.
The EQ CUP Playoffs feature a progressive cut in field size, starting with the first playoff event with all eligible players. After the third and final playoff week, the top 28 in the EQ CUP Standings will automatically qualify for the TOUR Championship where the EQ CUP Champion will be determined. In the event of a player in the top 28 unable to play BOTH rounds of the TOUR Championship, no alternate will be added.
All three playoff events award 1000 EQ CUP points to first place.
At the TOUR Championship, players will compete in a two-round accumulative score event to determine the EQ CUP Champion. Players will be given a handicap based off 75% of their factor for both rounds.
Players that did not qualify into the top 28 at the conclusion of the playoffs but had accumulated enough events over the course of the regular season for playoff eligibility, do have an option to buy back into the TOUR Championship.
Players that qualified in the top 28 at the conclusion of the playoffs for the TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP will be guaranteed a payout regardless of their finish. More ranking spots will be paid out beyond the top 28 based on how many total buy-ins entered. For example, if 10 players buy-in, 5 additional spots will be paid out. Players will compete for the EQ CUP purse accumulated over the course of the season.
The Team Challenge features 16 regular events and 4 playoff events over the course of the EQ CUP Regular Season and Playoffs. The 6 teams are comprised of a team captain and 7 other players to start the season. Teams will be drafted at the conclusion of play at the Silver Fox Memorial, the first tournament of the calendar season. To be eligible for the draft, players would have needed to play a minimum of 7 events in the previous season. All players that were not drafted will be placed on a team after they have played their 4th event. Placement onto a team is based off the top player's scoring average at the time, added to the team lowest in the standings.
Each event, one team will go head-to-head in a matchup against another team, with the lowest team score winning the contest. The teams event score is calculated using 1) One LOW NET Score 2) The AVERAGE of the NEXT 3 BEST low net scores 3) Subtract ½ of the teams' TOTAL BIRDIES.
Winning the matchup will result in your team gaining 5 pts in the overall team standings. A matchup loss will result in 0 pts, and a tie (if the matchup is within 1 pt or less between to two teams' scores) will result in 2 pts per team.
Each event a team can earn PARTICIPATION POINTS which will calculate into the overall team standings. For every player on the team that plays during a given week but DOES NOT factor into either the LOW NET score or as part of the team's NEXT 3 BEST low net scores, said player will earn a point for their team. For example, a team has 8 players play during the event, the team would earn 4 PARTICIPATION POINTS.
At the conclusion of the Team Challenge Regular Season schedule, all 6 teams will make the playoffs and compete in a Double Elimination Playoff style bracket to determine the seasons' Champion. Players will compete for the TEAM CHALLENGE purse accumulated over the course of the season with the top 3 teams receiving a payout. Each player's payout will be based on how many events they have played compared to all of the others players on the team.
Additional Events during the EQ CUP Regular Season do not have any team matchups scheduled.
The event is a Ryder Cup style competition with 2 teams playing a series of match-play formats to determine a Champion. Teams will be determined through a draft prior to the event with the two captains picking their players. The two captains will be made up of the top two players with the best Scoring Average at the time. Once teams have been selected, the captains will then pick their desired matchups prior to each round.
The Mike Baker Cup does not have any bearing on the EQ CUP Regular Season or Playoffs.
Each event during the EQ CUP Regular Season and Playoffs will have an entry fee of $45 per player. $25 will go towards daily SNIPS, $15 will go towards the EQ CUP season long purse and $5 will go towards the TEAM CHALLENGE season long purse.
The TOUR Championship will have an entry fee of $40 per player. $20 will go towards the daily SNIPS and $20 will go towards the EQ CUP season long purse.
For players that have been eliminated from the EQ CUP playoffs but are still playing in the TEAM CHALLENGE Playoffs, will not have to pay the portion of the fee that goes towards the EQ CUP.
For players that have been eliminated from the TEAM CHALLENGE playoffs but are still playing in the EQ CUP Playoffs, will not have to pay the portion of the fee that goes towards the TEAM CHALLENGE.
The Mike Baker Cup will have an entry fee of $50 per day. $35 from each day will go towards the total purse for the winning team and $15 will go towards daily SNIPS.
Prior to the Silver Fox Memorial, all players will have the option to buy into the ACE POT with an entry fee of $5. If a player makes a Hole-In-One and has paid into the pot, he will win the total amount. The ACE POT will restart with the same rules and entry fee of $5. For players that are not present for the first event and still wish to enter the ACE POT, can do so through email during the week leading up to the event.
Any player that makes a Hole-In-One during an official EQ CUP event, will be paid out just as a regular SNIP.
The EQ CUP Fantasy Box Pool will have an entry of $20 and is optional for all players to enter. Fantasy teams are comprised of players within the EQ TOUR. Team scoring will be based off EQ CUP points, birdies made and Snips won. The entry deadline will be after the Silver Fox Memorial.