75th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship Ready to Tee Off in South Carolina

75th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship – Fact Sheet

July 24-29, 2023, Daniel Island Club, Charleston, S.C.

usga.org/junioram | #USJuniorAm

PAR AND YARDAGE      

The Ralston Creek Course will be set up at 7,367 yards and will play to a par of 36-36–72. The Beresford Creek Course, which will serve as the stroke-play co-host course for the two days of stroke play, will be set up at 7,039 yards and play to a par of 36-35–71.

(NOTE: Yardages subject to change.)

DANIEL ISLAND CLUB (RALSTON CREEK) HOLE BY HOLE

DANIEL ISLAND CLUB (BERESFORD CREEK) HOLE BY HOLE   

ARCHITECTS

Located on 4,000-acre Daniel Island, just north of historic downtown Charleston between the Cooper and Wando Rivers, Daniel Island Club features 36 holes that weave through a Lowcountry landscape of saltwater marsh, tidal creeks and waterways. Designed by Tom Fazio, the Beresford Creek Course opened in 2000, followed by the Ralston Creek Course designed by Rees Jones, which opened in 2006.

ENTRIES            

The championship is open to any amateur golfers who will not have reached their 19th birthday on or before July 29, and who have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4.

The USGA accepted 4,261 entries for the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur, the second-highest total in championship history and the highest since 1999 (4,508).

QUALIFYING

Qualifying, played over 18 holes, was held between May 30 and June 29 at 59 sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico. California hosted the most qualifying sites with six, while Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas each conducted three. South Carolina hosted a qualifier at Daniel Island Club on June 5. Click here for a full list of qualifying results.

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD

A starting field of 264 golfers will compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Practice rounds will be held on July 22-23. The championship begins with 18-hole stroke-play rounds on July 24-25. The field will then be cut to the low 64 scorers for match play. Six rounds of match play will determine the champion. The championship match is contested over 36 holes.

EXEMPT PLAYERS (52)

Joshua Bai (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR®)
Rene Bergendi (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Teerawut Boonseeor ((Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Caolan Burford (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Xihuan Chang (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking) 
Ratchanon Tk Chantananuwat (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Chi Chun Chen (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Jean Paul Ducruet (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Zeqian Fang (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Erich Fortlage (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Ethan Gao (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Nicholas Gross (2022 U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Henry Guan (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Kelvin Hernandez (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Zenghao Hou (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Simon Hovdal (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Pocheng Hsu (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Joao Iglesias (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Sean Keeling (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Carson Kim (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Bryan Kim (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Pongsapak Laopakdee (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Rayhan Abdul Latief (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Eric Lee (2022 U.S. Junior Amateur semifinalist; Top 25 points leaders in WAGR; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Jay Leng Jr. (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Stanley Lin (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Daryl Low (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Jordan Marcello (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Michael Mikus Vasquez (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Jaime Montojo Fernandez (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Basthyan Facundo Moraga (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)

Tommy Morrison (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Taishi Moto (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Oliver Mukherjee (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Gabriel Palacios (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Mateo Payan (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Virgilio Paz (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Zachery Pollo (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Aaron Pounds (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Zihang Qiu (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Christopher Richards (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Syed Yashal Shah (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Kartik Singh (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Francisco Solorza (Winner of 2023 LXXII Campeonato Nacional-XXVI Edicion Internacional)
Zackary Swanick (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Harry Takis (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Richard Teder (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Robby Turnbull (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Juan Velasquez (Top 25 points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in WAGR)
Yixiang Wang (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Hristo Yanakiev (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)
Yanhan Zhou (Top 85 age-eligible points leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking)

SCHEDULE OF PLAY     

Monday, July 24 – First round, stroke play, 18 holes

Tuesday, July 25 – Second round, stroke play, 18 holes

Wednesday, July 26 – Round of 64, match play

Thursday, July 27 – Round of 32 and Round of 16, match play

Friday, July 28 – Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, match play

Saturday, July 29 – Championship match, 36 holes

2022 CHAMPION

Wenyi Ding became the first male golfer from the People’s Republic of China to claim a USGA championship when he defeated Caleb Surratt, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole championship match at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes Course) in Bandon, Ore. Ding built as much as an 8-up lead in the second 18 before holding off a late charge by Surratt, an incoming freshman at the University of Tennessee from Indian Trail, N.C.

WHAT THE WINNER RECEIVES:

►A gold medal

►Custody of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship Trophy for one year

►Exemption into future U.S. Junior Amateurs (while age eligible)

►Exemption into the next two U.S. Amateurs (2023, 2024)

►Exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (must be an amateur)

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

In 1948, the USGA inaugurated the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship to determine the best junior golfer in the United States and to help junior golfers realize the most from the game, win or lose. The first U.S. Junior Amateur was played at the University of Michigan Golf Course and received 495 entries.

Dean Lind, of Rockford, Ill., was the first champion. Lind defeated Ken Venturi, of San Francisco, a future U.S. Open champion, in the final. Only two players, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, have won the Junior Amateur more than once; Woods winning in 1991, 1992 and 1993, and Spieth in 2009 and 2011. Other notable champions include Johnny Miller, David Duval, Hunter Mahan, Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris. Its impressive roster of runners-up includes Justin Thomas, Andy North, Trevor Immelman, Jay Sigel, Scott Simpson, Al Geiberger and Ryan Moore.

In 2017, the U.S. Junior Amateur champion began receiving a full exemption into the following year’s U.S. Open Championship. In 2020, the U.S. Junior Amateur was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aligning with ongoing USGA initiatives to expand support of junior golf, the field size for the U.S. Junior Amateur increased from 156 players to 264, beginning with the 2021 championship at The Country Club of North Carolina.

CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

This large sterling silver trophy, produced by J.E. Caldwell and Co., of Philadelphia, is a replica of a bowl produced by noted early American silversmith Samuel Williamson, which is in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Dean Lind was the first to receive the trophy after his 1948 victory at the University of Michigan Golf Course, in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The original U.S. Junior Amateur Trophy is on display at the USGA Golf Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.

USGA AND DANIELD ISLAND CLUB

The 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur will be the first USGA championship contested at Daniel Island Club. The club will also host the 11th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, which will take place May 2-6, 2026. The specific course for that championship has yet to be determined.

FUTURE USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DANIEL ISLAND CLUB        

2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

This is the 21st USGA championship and fourth U.S. Junior Amateur contested in South Carolina. Most recently, the Palmetto State hosted the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Kiawah Island Club. The last USGA championship contested in Charleston was the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston, won by Jeongeun Lee6.

Previous U.S. Junior Amateur Championships in South Carolina (3):

1963: Florence Country Club, Florence (Gregg McHatton)
1979: Moss Creek Golf Club, Hilton Head Island (Jack Larkin)
2015: Colleton River Plantation Club (Dye Course), Bluffton (Philip Barbaree) 

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DANIEL ISLAND CLUB

2005 South Carolina Golf Association Amateur (Emmett Turner)
2009 Korn Ferry Tour Championship (Matt Every)
2010 Korn Ferry Tour Championship (Brendan Steele)
2011 Korn Ferry Tour Championship (Ken Duke)
2018 Trusted Choice "Big I" Championship (Connor Howe, Boys; Emily Hawkins, Girls)
2021 Daniel Island Intercollegiate (Team: Seton Hall; Individual: Nevill Ruiter, College of Charleston)

2022 Daniel Island Intercollegiate (Team: Mississippi State; Individual: Gene Zeigler, South Carolina)

WINNERS OF U.S. OPEN & U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR        

Winners, Years of Championships

Johnny Miller (1973 Open; 1964 Junior Amateur)

Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008 Open; 1991, 1992, 1993 Junior Amateur)

Jordan Spieth (2015 Open; 2009, 2011 Junior Amateur)

LONGEST COURSES IN U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR HISTORY

7,740 yards, Martis Camp Club, Truckee, Calif., 2013

7,367 yards, Daniel Island Club (Ralston Creek Course), Charleston, S.C., 2023

7,366 yards, Colleton River Plantation Club (Dye Course), Bluffton, S.C., 2015

7,339 yards, Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio, 2019

7,326 yards, The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn., 2016

7,313 yards, Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course), Springfield, N.J., 2018

7,275 yards, The Club at Carlton Woods (Nicklaus Course), The Woodlands, Texas, 2014

7,271 yards, The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood Course), Village of Pinehurst, N.C., 2021

7,251 yards, Shoal Creek (Ala.) Golf & Country Club, 2008

7,228 yards, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes), Bandon, Ore., 2022

7,175 yards, Golf Club of New England, Stratham, N.H., 2012

TELEVISION SCHEDULE                             

The 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur will receive at least four hours of live network coverage. Golf Channel will air semifinal matches on Friday and the championship match on Saturday.

Date                    Time (EDT)        Channel                            Coverage

July 28                 2-4 p.m.              Golf Channel                    Semifinal matches

July 29                 2-4 p.m.              Golf Channel                    Championship match

FUTURE U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR SITES

July 22-27, 2024 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
July 21-26, 2025 – Trinity Forest Golf Club, Dallas, Texas
July 20-25, 2026 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pa.
July 19-24, 2027 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash.

TBD, 2045 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore.