The registration for the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships is officially open as of March 11, 2026. These events are the gold standard for competitive youth golf, offering a direct path to major professional and amateur championships.
The Road to Durham and Bethlehem
Entries are now being accepted for the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 78th U.S. Junior Amateur. Notably, the journey toward these prestigious titles begins with the registration process, which officially opened earlier this week. Thousands of hopefuls will compete in qualifiers across North America for a chance to reach the final championship sites this July.
Championship Venues and Dates
The U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship will be hosted at the Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina, from July 13–18. Following this, the spotlight shifts to Pennsylvania for the U.S. Junior Amateur, taking place at the historic Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem from July 20–25. Both tournaments utilize a rigorous format consisting of two rounds of stroke-play qualifying followed by a 64-player match-play bracket.
Player Eligibility and Handicap Requirements
Strict eligibility standards are enforced by the USGA to ensure an elite level of competition. Specifically, participants must meet the following age and handicap criteria:
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U.S. Girls’ Junior: Open to female amateurs who have not turned 19 by July 18, 2026, with a Handicap Index of 5.4 or lower.
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U.S. Junior Amateur: Open to male amateurs who have not reached their 19th birthday by July 25, 2026, with a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.
Defending Champions and Historic Ties
The reigning champions are set to highlight the field as they look to defend their titles. In fact, Aphrodite Deng, who made history last year as the first Canadian winner, leads the exempt list for the Girls’ Junior. Meanwhile, Hamilton Coleman returns to defend the Junior Amateur trophy at Saucon Valley. The Old Course at Saucon Valley has a deep championship heritage, having previously hosted eight USGA championships, including the 1983 Junior Amateur.
The National Qualifying Schedule
Qualifying rounds will be held at various sites across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eventually, 156 girls and 264 boys will earn their spots in the final fields.
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Girls’ Qualifying: Runs from May 20 through July 1.
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Boys’ Qualifying: Runs from May 26 through July 1.
The winner of each championship receives significant rewards, including a gold medal and exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Open or U.S. Women’s Open, provided they remain amateurs. Thus, the 2026 season is officially underway for the next generation of golfing greats.