2019 JUNIOR PRESIDENTS CUP SELECTION, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FINALIZED

Junior Presidents Cup named the AJGA’s 2017 Invitational of the Year

JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 26: Andrew Greenfield, Vice President of Tournament Operation at the AJGA, speaks during the Junior Presidents Cup closing ceremony at Plainfield Country Club on September 26, 2017, in Edison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ryan Young/PGA TOUR)

Melbourne, Victoria, AUS – The PGA TOUR and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) have finalized the official selection and eligibility criteria for the Junior Presidents Cup, which is set to take place December 8-9, 2019, at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The Junior Presidents Cup will precede the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will be contested at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time in the International event’s history later that week.

Teams will consist of the top 24 junior boys from the United States and around the world, excluding Europe, split up into teams of 12. Participants for both teams must be at least 12 years old by the start of the tournament and must have not reached their 19th birthday or graduated high school as of January 1, 2019.

Additionally, participants must be amateurs who have not yet started college and are not members of a competitive collegiate golf program in order to be eligible to play in the Junior Presidents Cup. Players graduating in the final quarter (Sept. – Dec.) of the year will be considered part of the following year’s graduating class.

The specific selection and eligibility criteria for each team is outlined below:

U.S. Team Selection / Eligibility Criteria

• The U.S. Team will be made up of the leading 12 qualified players based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings as of September 5, 2019. In the event of a tie for 12th place, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) list at that time.
• The 52-week rankings window will include ranked events with a start date of September 3, 2018, and later.
• Each U.S. Team participant must also be a citizen of the United States and must be a current AJGA member in good standing.

International Team Selection / Eligibility Criteria

• The International Team will be made up of the leading 12 qualified players based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) as of September 5, 2019. In the event of a tie for 12th place, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the most recent previous World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) revision.
• Each International Team participant must be a citizen of an eligible international Presidents Cup country (excludes European Ryder Cup countries).
• To be eligible to appear on the International Team standings, players must have their birthdate on file with WAGR™. Once a WAGR™ Ranking is established, players must submit the WAGR™ Player Information Form.
• The host country is guaranteed at least one spot on the International Team. If no players from the host country are ranked as part of the leading 12 qualified players, the final spot will go to the top-ranked qualified player from the host country.

Following a successful inaugural event in 2017 at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, the AJGA is pleased to announce the Junior Presidents Cup has been awarded the AJGA’s Invitational of the Year and Social Media Awards. Each year, the AJGA annually recognizes events on its schedule that excel in Volunteers, Media, Fundraising and Hospitality, as well as awards an event of the year in the category of Preview, Junior All-Star, Open and Invitational. The 2017 Junior Presidents Cup showcased the future of men’s golf by delivering an inspiring and spirited competition just days before the professionals took center stage in the Presidents Cup at nearby Liberty National Golf Club.

The U.S. Team and the International Team were led by PGA TOUR professionals and past Presidents Cup participants David Toms and Trevor Immelman, respectively. Honorary Captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player attended the singles matches and Closing Ceremonies where they awarded their teams with medals.

“When you get chosen to represent your country and play against the world’s top juniors, you really identify the weaknesses as well as the strengths in your game,” said Australia’s Fred Lee, who qualified for the International Team. “For me it was a real eye opener and encouraging knowing that I had some game against the top juniors in the world.”

The U.S. Team defeated the International Team 14-10 in four-ball, foursomes and singles matches.

The AJGA and PGA TOUR provided an unforgettable experience for the juniors, which included team uniforms, a gift set, caddies, captains and national media coverage from Golf Channel with assistance from PGA TOUR Entertainment. After the conclusion of the tournament, Junior Presidents Cups players and families were treated to a VIP Presidents Cup experience.