Minnesota Joins the USGA’s National Development Team
October 16, 2024
Written by, Warren P Ryan, MGA
Minnesota is one of nine states added to the junior team program in 2025
EDINA, Minn. (Oct. 16, 2024) – Minnesota is launching a state junior golf team that will expand the pipeline for elite local golfers into the recently created U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), an initiative launched last year by the United States Golf Association to create critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities for golfers ages 13-18.
“Team Minnesota offers our top junior players the resources they need to elevate their game,” said Jon Mays, executive director/COO of the Minnesota Golf Association. “In the highly competitive national and international landscape of junior golf, we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive approach to athlete development and training. Our goal is to create an environment where Minnesota’s best players can challenge and inspire each other to achieve even greater success on and off the course.”
Minnesota is one of 16 states and regions that are now part of the state team program. Seven states were included in the initial phase of the program that kicked off in January, with the goal of all states having a team by 2033. The program is continuing to expand through close collaboration between the USGA, its allied golf associations, the PGA of America and its sections and relevant state junior programs.
“This first of its kind state team program will serve as a critical part of the talent identification pathway for the USNDP and provide more opportunities for a diverse population of athletes to receive resources and guidance to compete at the highest levels of the game,” says Heather Daly-Donofrio, USGA managing director, Player Relations and Development. “Additionally, the opportunity to represent their home state will incentivize each region’s best junior golfers to play more in-state competitions, ultimately strengthening the junior golf programming across the country.”
Minnesota will establish a team committee consisting of representatives from the MGA and the Minnesota Section of the PGA of America. The committee will oversee team selection criteria, and the operation of the program based on guidelines provided by the USGA. Team selection criteria may consist of a points structure, ranking or combination of other competitive factors, and will be published prior to the entry deadline of the first counting event of the 2025 championship season. State team roster sizes are calculated by elite junior participation in the state, ranging from two boys/two girls to 20 boys/20 girls. Minnesota expects to have 12 boys/12 girls as part of the initial team, which will be named in late 2025. To be eligible to compete on a Minnesota team, a player must be a U.S. Citizen. 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 2025-2026 school year. A Handicap Index® is also required. Additional eligibility requirements and FAQs can be found at mngolf.org.
About the USNDP
Announced in February of 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. The state team program will focus on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game, including an opportunity to represent the United States as a member of the National Junior Team led by former Pepperdine Associate Head Coach Chris Zambri. In March, the USGA named its inaugural 18-player U.S. National Junior Team.