USNDP: Team Pennsylvania

12 girls and 12 boys will be selected to represent the Keystone State

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In alignment with the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) initiative created by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the state of Pennsylvania is creating a state junior team expanding the channels for elite junior golfers in the state. Team Pennsylvania will be administrated by GAP, the Pennsylvania Golf Association, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association, the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America as well as the Tri-State PGA, following USGA guidelines.

Team Pennsylvania will be represented by 12 junior boys and 12 junior girls. Eight of the team boys and girls members will be selected by a points-based system with the remaining four members selected by the Team Pennsylvania Committee at-large using the points as a reference. Team members will earn benefits for the calendar year in which they are selected. Players will need to earn a spot on the team each year.

To be eligible to compete on the team in 2026, a player must be a U.S. Citizen and the athlete’s parents/guardians must be a resident of Pennsylvania and file personal taxes in the state. Each eligible player must be 13 years old by Jan. 1, 2026, have not reached their 19th birthday by July 19, 2026, and must not be enrolled in college for the 2025-26 school year.

A Handicap Index® is also required. Players must be a member of one of the listed organizations with an established Handicap Index®, having entered all eligible scores to be considered for Team Pennsylvania. 

In order to be eligible to receive points, players must compete in at least two (2) events from the points system as outlined in the Selection Criteria.

The Pennsylvania Committee will evaluate eligible athletes who it may consider for the four selection spots on Team Pennsylvania for each gender based on the following factors: 

• Points Distribution List – The Committee will use the Team Pennsylvania Points Distribution List as a guide in the decision making of the final four spots.

• Rankings – The Committee will consider the current and previous rankings (within the last 12-24 months) of athletes from various publicly available rankings, which may include, but is not limited to, Junior Golf Scoreboard, Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rankings, World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), and applicable state rankings and/or head-to-head rankings.

• Scoring – The Committee will consider factors related to the athlete’s scoring ability and scoring history, which may include, but is not limited to, scoring average, scoring consistency, ability to post low scores and hole-by-hole patterns. 
• Results – The Committee will review the athlete’s competitive play results, including, but not limited to, finish positions, difficulty of schedule, golf course length, and head-to-head results in any high-level competitions or events.

Team Pennsylvania will be named in the fall 2025 with team members receiving benefits as a member of the USNDP through 2026. The USNDP will provide benefits and recognition to Team Pennsylvania participants. These benefits may include recognition on the USGA/USNDP website and social media, streamlined USNDP grant applications, exemptions into local AJGA events, and access to the official USNDP statistical platform and athlete development resources. Pennsylvania will provide at least two days of athletic development and coaching at a Pennsylvania facility. 

Scott Nye, who retired in 2023 as Merion Golf Club’s Director of Championships for close to 25 years, will serve as Team Pennsylvania’s captain.

QUESTIONS

For questions related to Team Pennsylvania, please contact:

Grant Morse – GAP Tournament Director (gmorse@gapgolf.org)

Team Pennsylvania Point Eligible Events (Boys)

Team Pennsylvania Point Eligible Events (Girls)

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 125,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.