U.S. Junior Amateur
The USGA inaugurated the U.S. Junior Amateur championship for players under the age of eighteen in 1948, though the age limit was raised by one year for the 2017 competition. It was also announced then that the winner would gain an exemption into the following year's U.S. Open. The first edition had 495 entries but the modern day version attracts way in excess of 3, 000 applicants so dozens of sectional qualifying events take place in advance of the actual tournament.
The format from 1948 to 1964 was match play with a field of 128 and an 18-hole final match. Between 1965 and 2004, there was 36-hole stroke play qualifying for 64 match play places with an 18-hole final match. From 2005, the final has been played over 36 holes. A medal for the best stroke play qualifying score has also been awarded since 1965. Starting in 2021, the field expands to 264 players, with two venues used for stroke play.
The first championship was contested at the University of Michigan Golf Course and it was won by Dean Lind with a 4&2 victory against future U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi. The large sterling silver trophy presented to the winner was produced by J.E. Caldwell and Co. in Philadelphia and it’s a replica of a bowl produced by noted early American silversmith Samuel Williamson which is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Since then, a number of prominent professional players have won the U.S. Junior Amateur in their formative golfing years. Tiger Woods captured three consecutive titles from 1991 to 1993 and Jordan Spieth won the trophy in both 2009 and 2011. These two remain the only golfers to claim multiple Junior Amateur titles. Other notable champions who...
The USGA inaugurated the U.S. Junior Amateur championship for players under the age of eighteen in 1948, though the age limit was raised by one year for the 2017 competition. It was also announced then that the winner would gain an exemption into the following year's U.S. Open. The first edition had 495 entries but the modern day version attracts way in excess of 3, 000 applicants so dozens of sectional qualifying events take place in advance of the actual tournament.
The format from 1948 to 1964 was match play with a field of 128 and an 18-hole final match. Between 1965 and 2004, there was 36-hole stroke play qualifying for 64 match play places with an 18-hole final match. From 2005, the final has been played over 36 holes. A medal for the best stroke play qualifying score has also been awarded since 1965. Starting in 2021, the field expands to 264 players, with two venues used for stroke play.
The first championship was contested at the University of Michigan Golf Course and it was won by Dean Lind with a 4&2 victory against future U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi. The large sterling silver trophy presented to the winner was produced by J.E. Caldwell and Co. in Philadelphia and it’s a replica of a bowl produced by noted early American silversmith Samuel Williamson which is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Since then, a number of prominent professional players have won the U.S. Junior Amateur in their formative golfing years. Tiger Woods captured three consecutive titles from 1991 to 1993 and Jordan Spieth won the trophy in both 2009 and 2011. These two remain the only golfers to claim multiple Junior Amateur titles. Other notable champions who went on to win significant professional honours include Gay Brewer (1964), Johnny Millar (1964), David Duval (1989) and Hunter Mahan (1999).
Four clubs have hosted the tournament on two separate occasions: Manor CC in Maryland (1957, 1971); Singing Hills, California (1973, 1989); Wilmington CC in Delaware (1965, 1978); and Yale Golf Course in Connecticut (1952, 1988).
The following courses are missing from our listings below as they're currently not listed in any of our Best in State rankings: Brookfield in New York (1985); Brookhaven in Texas (1972); Cornell University in New York (1961); Echo Lake in New Jersey (1994); Egypt Valley in Michigan (2010); Hiwan in Colorado (1976); Lochmoor Club in Michigan (1962); Manor Country Club in Maryland (1957, 1971); Moss Creek in South Carolina (1979); Pine Lake in Michigan (1980); Purdue University in Indiana (1955), Richland in Tennessee (1975); Singing Hills in California (1973, 1989); Singletree in Colorado (1987); Sunnyside in California (1981); University of Illinois (1951); University of Minnesota (1958); and Wollaston in Massachusetts (1992).
U.S. Junior Amateur host courses
Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands)
6th
The Highlands course is invariably considered to be the premier layout at Atlanta Athletic Club and the 1976 US Open was played on this course.
Baltusrol (Upper)
6th
The Upper course at Baltusrol Golf Club was laid out by the "Creator of Golf Courses", the legendary A. W. Tillinghast.
Bay Hill (Challenger & Champion)
24th
Palmer and his partner Ed Seay have altered much of Dick Wilson’s original design, so today’s Bay Hill Club is very much the spirit of the King.
Boone Valley
6th
Venue for the US Junior Amateur Championship in 2007, the course at Boone Valley Golf Club is a P.B. Dye layout that also hosted the Boone Valley Classic event on the PGA Senior Tour from 1996 to 2000.
California Golf Club of San Francisco
6th



The California Golf Club of San Francisco can now boast tournament measurements. From the new back tees, which are aptly called Venturi, the course can be stretched to more than 7,200 yards.
Carlton Woods (Nicklaus)
29th
The Club at Carlton Woods features two long, demanding 18-hole tracks that each operate from their own clubhouses. The Nicklaus is the more established of the two golf courses, opening in 2001.
Colleton River Plantation (Pete Dye)
18th
The Pete Dye course at the Colleton River Plantation Club appeared six years after the Nicklaus layout debuted at the same location.
U.S. Junior Amateur Leaderboard
Rank | Name | Courses Played |
---|---|---|
1 | Paul Rudovsky |
|
2 | James VanArsdall |
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3 | Joseph Andriole |
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4 | Bob McCoy |
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5 | Joshua Asher |
|
= | Fergal O'Leary |
|
7 | David Harak |
|
= | Mark White |
|
9 | Steve Starika |
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10 | James Gold |
|