The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the expansion of the State Junior Team Program that will support the pipeline for elite junior golfers ages 13-18 into the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP). Nine new teams, including Northern California, will be established in 2025, joining the seven teams launched earlier this year and advancing the USGA’s goal of all 50 states having a team by 2033.
Information on the Northern California team can be found on the NCGA website.
“In just under a year since piloting the State Team Program, we’ve seen the significant impact and support toward our goal of identifying and nurturing our country’s top junior talent at the state level,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, USGA managing director, Player Relations and Development. “We’re truly fortunate to have great partners in this endeavor who share our mission for creating opportunities for these talented young golfers and for laying the foundation for this program’s long-term success.”
The seven previously announced teams will release rosters as well as captains/coaches starting with Tennessee in late-October and followed by California (Southern), Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Ohio throughout the remainder of 2024. Each of the seven states used their own criteria to determine their rosters. All players named to a state team will receive two days of in-person athlete development per year, access to USNDP statistical platforms, consideration for USNDP exemptions into various junior tournaments and a streamlined grant application process for families demonstrating financial need, among other benefits.
“The overwhelmingly positive response of the State Junior Team Program is cause for optimism not just for the future of the USNDP but the future of competitive golf in America,” said Chris Zambri, head coach of the U.S. National Development Program. “There is such a deep talent pool of promising young golfers across the country, and building this state-level network to support them through dedicated development and access to resources will be a game-changer.”
The nine states participating in the second wave of the program--that includes NorCal--will each establish a committee consisting of representatives from major golf organizations within the state, including any AGAs and PGA of America Sections. The committees will oversee team selection criteria and the operation of the state program based on guidelines provided by the USGA. Team selection criteria will vary by state and may consist of a points structure, ranking or combination of other competitive factors. Selection criteria from all nine states will be published prior to the entry deadline of the first counting event of their 2025 championship season. State team roster sizes will be calculated by elite junior participation in the state, ranging from two boys/two girls to 20 boys/20 girls.
To be eligible, a player must be a U.S. citizen. Each eligible player cannot be enrolled in college, must be 13 years old by January 1 and not reach their 19th birthday by July 19 of the year in which they would compete on a State Junior Team. State-specific team information can be found at usga.org/USNDP.
For more information on the Northern California team, please go here
The U.S. National Development Program is supported by philanthropic giving and secured resources to fulfill the USGA’s commitment to providing pathways to elite levels of the game, regardless of financial situations. For more, visit www.usga.org/give_usndp.