The U.S. Golf Association has tweaked the definition of a junior golfer – at least for its two national championships.
The USGA raised the maximum age for players in the U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls’ Junior, from 17 to 18, starting in 2017, the association announced Wednesday. Also, the Handicap Index requirements have been tightened: 4.4 for the boys (down from 6.4) and 9.4 for the girls (down from 18.4).
“These significant changes in the USGA’s junior championships are part of the association’s continuous review of these global-reach competitions, which focuses on conducting excellent championships,” said Stuart Francis, chairman of the USGA’s championship committee.