The South Carolina Junior Golf Association will launch a new tournament series called the Players Series in 2022, beginning with the Fripp Island Junior Challenge on Saturday and Sunday.
The Players Series is designed to give junior golfers from South Carolina the opportunity to develop their skills and earn exemptions into future major championships hosted by the SCJGA. SCJGA Senior Director Justin Fleming says the move was made to address overwhelming demand for SCJGA majors last year, with more than 200 applicants turned away from several events.
“We initially tried to address this demand with local qualifiers and additional one-day events," Fleming said. "The Players Series allows us to focus on the players we have had to turn away, giving priority to all boys 13-18 outside of the top 75 of the Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings. All girls 13-18 are eligible to compete in the Players Series.”
Players Series events will be included in the Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings, but the Players Series is uniquely designed with its own separate rankings system, which will reward players based on end-of-the-year final standings. All Players Series events will be included in the separate rankings, as well as all state-wide SCJGA One-Days such as the President’s Day One-Day.
The year-long points race will give all Players Series competitors the opportunity to earn exemptions into the SCJGA’s 2023 major championships, excluding the Bobby Chapman Junior Invitational. The top finisher in the boys and girls standings at the end of 2022 will earn full exemptions into all SCJGA 2023 major championships. Full exemption earns players the right to compete in high-profile Championships such as the Sea Pines Junior Heritage, the Blade Junior Classic, and the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea. Other exemptions into SCJGA majors will also be awarded to players depending on final Players Series Rankings and SCJGA majors exemption availability.
In addition to the year-long points race, which rewards long-term commitment to the series, immediate rewards will also be given to 2022 Players Series Champions. Champions of each 2022 Players Series event will earn exemptions into all 2022 Players Series events, as well as exemption status into the 2022 Upstate Junior Classic, 2022 Harvey Brock Orange Jacket Classic, and 2022 Fall Challenge.
The Players Series schedule is filled through August. The schedule, as well the links to register for open events, can be found below. Location and date for Players Series events in September, October, November, and December are to be determined.
SCJGA 2022 PLAYERS SERIES
DATE | EVENT | LOCATION | COURSE |
Feb. 5-6 | Fripp Island Junior Challenge | Fripp Island | Ocean Creek Ocean Point |
Feb. 21 | President’s Day One-Day | Darlington | Darlington CC |
March 26-27 | Players Series at Fort Jackson | Columbia | Fort Jackson Wildcat |
April 23-24 | Players Series at Cherokee National | Gaffney | Cherokee National |
May 21-22 | Players Series at Cheraw State Park | Cheraw | Cheraw State Park |
June 16-17 | Players Series at Greenwood CC | Greenwood | Greenwood CC |
July 26-27 | Players Series at Crowfield | Goose Creek | Crowfield GC |
Aug. 3-4 | Players Series at Myrtle Beach National | Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach National |
Dec. 30 | New Year’s Eve One-Day | Santee | Lake Marion |