PGA announces selection process for 2016 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team

 

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2016) – The PGA of America has announced the selection process for the 12-player United States Team that will compete against Europe, Sept. 26-27, in the 2016 Junior Ryder Cup in Edina, Minnesota.

 

The United States Team will consist of six boys and six girls who are United States citizens and are in the high school graduating class of 2017, or younger.

 

Those earning an exemption to compete at Interlachen Country Club include: the top two boy and top two girl finishers from the PGA of America’s flagship junior event, the 41st Junior PGA Championship; the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion; and the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior Champion. If any of these individuals have graduated from high school and is therefore not eligible to participate, that exemption will become a captain’s pick.

 

In addition, the leading boy and girl in the 2016 Junior Ryder Cup final point standings will earn an automatic berth on the team. Points will be awarded beginning at the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior. 

 

This will include all eight PGA Junior Series events, the AJGA fall and next summer’s 2016 "Invitationals," USGA Junior Section and National Championships, PGA Junior Section and National Championships, and select independent events like the Orange Bowl International Junior, Sea Pines Junior Heritage, Kathy Whitworth Girls Invitational and Scott Robertson Memorial. In addition, points are awarded to those juniors who make the cut in a 2015/2016 PGA Tour, LPGA major or USGA national event.

 

The final four spots will be two boys and two girls captain's picks for which the PGA of America will consider all three Junior national ranking systems from Golfweek, Junior Golf Scoreboard and Polo to pinpoint the remaining selections. In the instance of a dual champion in any of the aforementioned events, this too becomes a captain’s pick.

 

To be eligible for the United States team as a captain’s pick, boys and girls must play in the 41st Junior PGA Championship at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island, August 9-12, 2016, unless they are in the final match of the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, Men’s Western Amateur or semifinalist or better in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

 

The United States team will be announced by the PGA of America on Aug. 16, 2016. In addition to the Junior Ryder Cup, the United States and European teams will play a Friendship Match at Hazeltine National Golf Club and be a part of the opening ceremonies in conjunction with the 41st Ryder Cup.

 

The 2016 Junior Ryder Cup will continue to present the expanded Ryder Cup format of foursomes, mixed four-ball and singles competition. The matches will mark the tenth formal connection between the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe, which biennially stage the Ryder Cup.

 

The United States’ all-time record in the Junior Ryder Cup is 5-3-1.

 

In 2014, the United States won its fourth consecutive Junior Ryder Cup, 16-8, at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Scotland. 

 

The Junior Ryder Cup, an international showcase of golf’s next generation, is designed to continue to build international friendships between the top junior golfers in the United States and Europe. 

 

For a full breakdown of the selection process and points structure, please visit www.pgajuniorseries.com. 

 

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