Category Archives: events
USGA Announces Qualifying Sites for 126th U.S. Open
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – Local and final qualifying sites for the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y., have been announced by the USGA. The championship proper will be contested from June 18-21.
Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 110 sites in 46 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, will take place between April 20-May 18. Those advancing players will join a group of locally exempt competitors in final qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 13 sites. Final qualifying will be held in England (May 18), Japan (May 25) and Canada (June 8) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 18 and the remaining nine on June 8, known across the industry as “Golf’s Longest Day,” which will receive ten hours of coverageon Golf Channel.
“The U.S. Open is the most open championship in golf,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “It is a global invitation into the United States’ national championship, and Allied Golf Associations in the United States, the DP World Tour, and national federations in Canada, Japan and Mexico will collaborate in providing a path to the championship through our qualifying stages. Thousands of professional and amateur golfers with diverse backgrounds will have an opportunity to earn a place in this year’s championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.”
Online player registration for the 2026 U.S. Open will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m. ET and continue through Wednesday, April 8, at 5 p.m. ET. Competitors can register at champs.usga.org.
The USGA accepted a record 10,202 entries for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, which marked the fourth time in championship history that the number of entries exceeded 10,000. The previous record was established in 2023 when 10,187 entries were accepted for the championship at The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club.
To be eligible, one must be an amateur with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4 or be a professional. California leads the way with 14 local qualifying sites, followed by Florida with 13.
Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., will hold a U.S. Open local qualifier for the 47th consecutive year in which qualifying has been conducted, and the 52nd time since 1973. Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club and Ironwood Country Club, in Palm Desert, Calif., will each host local qualifying for the 28th time. Collindale Golf Course, in Fort Collins, Colo., has been a host site since 2003.
River Landing, in Wallace, N.C., has been a regular local qualifying spot for three decades, hosting from 1998-2006 and from 2008 to the present. The Country Club of Sioux Falls (S.D.) has hosted local qualifying for the past 12 years and 17 of the last 20 years. Southampton Golf Club, adjacent to Shinnecock Hills, is hosting a local qualifier for the first time since 2022.
Woodmont Country Club, in Rockville, Md., will be a final qualifying site for the 39th time in the last 41 years, with its North Course exclusively being used for the 12th consecutive time. Springfield (Ohio) Country Club will host final qualifying for the 17th time. Century Country Club, in Purchase, N.Y., is hosting final qualifying for the 22nd time since 1970 and is paired with the Country Club of Purchase (N.Y.) for the first time. Old Oaks Country Club served as co-host the previous 22 times. The Lakes Golf & Country Club, in Westerville, Ohio, is hosting final qualifying for the 16th time since 1999.
Walton Heath Golf Club, in England, was a site when international qualifying began in 2005. The Old and New Courses will host final qualifying for the 19th time. For the second consecutive year, Lambton Golf & Country Club, in Canada’s Ontario province, will host a final qualifier ahead of the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open. Hino Golf Club, is a final qualifying site in Japan for the second time in the last three years.
Several players who made it through final qualifying finished in the top 25 at the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont, including Carlos Ortiz, of Mexico, who finished in a tie for fourth and is exempt into this year’s championship. Ortiz made his fifth U.S. Open start in 2025 after posting 8-under 134 in the Dallas final qualifier.
Other players who made it through final qualifying who finished in the top 25 at Oakmont include Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Victor Perez, Emiliano Grillo, Chris Gotterup and Matt Wallace. Gotterup, now a four-time PGA Tour winner, is exempt into the field for 2026.
Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after advancing through both qualifying stages. Gene Littler (1961), Julius Boros (1963), Jerry Pate (1976), Steve Jones (1996), Michael Campbell (2005) and Lucas Glover (2009) won after advancing through final qualifying. Campbell, of New Zealand, won in the first year the USGA introduced international qualifying.
Several U.S. Open champions have advanced to the championship through both local and final qualifying at some point in their careers, including Glover (2009), David Graham (1981), Lou Graham (1975), Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990), Tony Jacklin (1970), Lee Janzen (1993, 1998), Tom Kite (1982), Johnny Miller (1973), Corey Pavin (1995), J.J. Spaun (2025), Curtis Strange (1988, 1989), Lee Trevino (1968, 1971), Gary Woodland (2019) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1984).
Past U.S. Opens contested at Shinnecock Hills include the second U.S. Open in 1896, when James Foulis outlasted defending champion Horace Rawlins by three strokes, and the 100th U.S. Open in 1995, won by Corey Pavin over Greg Norman by two strokes.
Shinnecock Hills also hosted the U.S. Open in 1986, when Raymond Floyd broke away from Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins to win by two strokes, and in 2004, when Retief Goosen captured his second U.S. Open, defeating Phil Mickelson by two. Brooks Koepka successfully defended his U.S. Open title in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills, holding off Tommy Fleetwood by a stroke.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is the only course to host the national championship in three different centuries.
In 1894, Shinnecock Hills was one of the founding clubs of the USGA along with The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass., Newport (R.I.) Country Club, Chicago (Ill.) Golf Club and Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. It is also the home of the first clubhouse in the United States, designed by Stanford White and opened in 1892.
2026 U.S. Open Championship Local Qualifying Sites (110)
Monday, April 20 (8)
Oro Valley (Ariz.) Country Club
Del Rio Country Club, Modesto, Calif.
Wichita Falls (Texas) Country Club
The Territory Golf and Country Club, Duncan, Okla.
Solina Golf Club, West Columbia, S.C.
Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Eastpointe Country Club (East Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Persimmon Ridge Golf Club, Louisville, Ky.
Tuesday, April 21 (2)
Woodland Golf Club, Auburndale, Mass.
The Club at Nevillewood, Presto, Pa.
Wednesday, April 22 (2)
Club de Golf La Hacienda, Mexico City, Mexico
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, Grayslake, Ill.
Monday, April 27 (10)
Parkersburg Country Club, Vienna, W.V.
Ridgewood Country Club, Waco, Texas
Barton Creek Country Club at Lakeside, Spicewood, Texas
Medford Village (N.J.) Country Club
Rams Hill Golf Club, Borrego Springs, Calif.
Four Bridges Country Club, Liberty Township, Ohio
Fairmont Country Club, Chatham, N.J.
Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Ind.
Hidden Valley Country Club, Reno, Nev.
The Club at Carlton Woods (Nicklaus Course), The Woodlands, Texas
Tuesday, April 28 (5)
Pearl at Kalauao, Aiea, Oahu, Hawai’i
Findlay (Ohio) Country Club
Southampton (N.Y.) Golf Club
Eagle Trace Golf Club, Coral Springs, Fla.
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), Palm Harbor, Fla.
Thursday, April 30 (5)
Kings Country Club, Hanford, Calif.
La Purisima Golf Course, Lompoc, Calif.
Wailua Golf Club, Lihue, Hawai’i
Country Club of York (Pa.)
The Home Course, DuPont, Wash.
Monday, May 4 (18)
The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.)
Lake Nona (Fla.) Golf & Country Club
Avila Golf & Country Club, Tampa, Fla.
North Oaks (Minn.) Golf Club
Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club
Brentwood Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.
Indian Ridge Country Club (Grove Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa, Ariz.
Plum Hollow Country Club, Southfield, Mich.
Illini Country Club, Springfield, Ill.
North Shore Country Club (Red & White Courses), Glenwood Landing, N.Y.
Raven Golf Club at Sandestin (Fla.)
Secession Golf Club, Beaufort, S.C.
Stonebrae Country Club, Hayward, Calif.
Morris Park Country Club, South Bend, Ind.
Crestview Country Club (North Course), Wichita, Kan.
The Country Club of Sioux Falls (S.D.)
Chester Valley Golf Club, Malvern, Pa.
Tuesday, May 5 (10)
Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster, Colo.
Great River Golf Club, Milford, Conn.
Hot Springs Country Club (Arlington Course), Hot Springs, Ark.
Ruby Hill Golf Club, Pleasanton, Calif.
WingHaven Country Club, St. Louis, Mo.
Andalusia Country Club, La Quinta, Calif.
Collindale Golf Course, Fort Collins, Colo.
North Shore Country Club (Red & White), Mequon, Wis.
Red Hawk Golf Club, Las Cruces, N.M.
The Country Club, Morristown, Tenn.
Wednesday, May 6 (6)
Plantation Bay Country Club (Founders – North/South), Ormond Beach, Fla.
Moorings at Hawk’s Nest, Vero Beach, Fla.
Turf Valley Resort (Original Course), Ellicott City, Md.
Omaha (Neb.) Country Club
Pasatiempo Golf Club, Santa Cruz, Calif.
River Landing, Wallace, N.C.
Thursday, May 7 (4)
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Silver Lakes (Backbreaker/Heartbreaker), Gadsden, Ala.
Rancho La Quinta Country Club (Jones Course), La Quinta, Calif.
Thorncreek Golf Course, Thornton, Colo.
Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club
Monday, May 11 (24)
St. Thomas (Ontario, Canada) Golf & Country Club
The Club at P.B. Dye, Ijamsville, Md.
Canongate-on-White-Oak (Old Course), Newnan, Ga.
Phoenix (Ariz.) Country Club
Marsh Creek Country Club, St. Augustine, Fla.
Shingle Creek Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.
Vineyards Country Club (North Course), Naples, Fla.
The Club at Sonterra (North Course), San Antonio, Texas
Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.
The Links at Greystone, Walworth, N.Y.
Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C.
Battle Creek (Mich.) Country Club
Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Conn.
Metropolis Country Club, White Plains, N.Y.
Elmhurst Country Club, Moscow, Pa.
Mendakota Country Club, Mendota Heights, Minn.
Willow Creek Country Club, Sandy, Utah
Scioto Reserve Country Club, Powell, Ohio
Hallbrook Country Club, Leawood, Kan.
Flossmoor (Ill.) Golf Club
Nashville Golf & Athletic Club, Brentwood, Tenn.
Papago Golf Course, Phoenix, Ariz.
Creekside Golf Club, Salem, Ore.
Shaker Ridge Country Club, Albany, N.Y.
Tuesday, May 12 (11)
Weymouth Country Club, Medina, Ohio
Keswick (Va.) Golf Club
Ironwood Country Club (South Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Missoula (Mont.) Country Club
The Cardinal by Pete Dye, Greensboro, N.C.
Meadow Springs Country Club, Richland, Wa.
Hackberry Creek Country Club, Irving, Texas
UNM Championship Golf Course, Albuquerque, N.M.
Berkshire Hills Country Club, Pittsfield, Mass.
Kirkbrae Country Club, Lincoln, R.I.
Wednesday, May 13 (4)
Kensington Golf & Country Club, Naples, Fla.
Mallard Golf Club, Lake Charles, La.
Warm Springs Golf Course, Boise, Idaho
Casablanca Golf Club, Mesquite, Nev.
Monday, May 18 (1)
Palmer (Alaska) Golf Course
2026 U.S. Open Championship Final Qualifying Sites (13)
Monday, May 18 (2)
Dallas (Texas) Athletic Club (Blue/Gold)
Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey, England
Monday, May 25 (1)
Hino Golf Club (King Course), Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Monday, June 8 (10)
Hawks Ridge Golf Club, Ball Ground, Ga.
Lambton Golf & Country Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Lakes Golf & Country Club, Westerville, Ohio
Woodmont Country Club (North Course), Rockville, Md.
BallenIsles Country Club (East Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Century Country Club, Purchase, N.Y. & Golf Club of Purchase (N.Y.)
Gaston Country Club, Gastonia, N.C.
Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento, Calif.
Springfield (Ohio) Country Club
Emerald Valley Golf Club, Creswell, Ore.
PGA Tour Announces 2026 Tournament Schedule
The full schedule is available here: https://www.pgatour.com/schedule
USGA Honors Individuals Who Have Shaped Golf Through Service, Innovation and Literature
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The USGA today announced the recipients of its Annual Awards, honoring three individuals for their significant contributions for the good of the game in the areas of volunteerism, turfgrass advancement and golf literature.
The Joe Dey Award, presented annually since 1996, recognizes exemplary volunteer service and leadership within the game. The Green Section Award is the longest standing award, established in 1961, and honors distinguished service to golf through turfgrass management and innovation. The Herbert Warren Wind Award was established in 1987 and honors outstanding contributions to golf literature that broaden the public’s interest in and knowledge of the game. Together, the awards reflect the USGA’s commitment to supporting the people and ideas that strengthen golf at all levels and deserve recognition across the game.
“This year, we are honored to recognize three outstanding individuals whose influence on the game is felt in many ways,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “Through their service and expertise, each award winner has made a lasting impact on golf, reflecting the very values these awards were created to honor.”
The USGA will recognize the award recipients at its Annual Awards Dinner in New York City, on Saturday, Feb. 28, during the organization’s Annual Meeting along with the Ellen Port, who was announced by the USGA as the 2026 Bob Jones Award recipient last month.
Joe Dey Award – Jerry Lemieux, of Toledo, Ohio
Jerry Lemieux has served as a USGA Committee member for 19 years, exemplifying the highest standards of leadership, volunteerism, integrity and passion. One of the organization’s most respected rules officials, he has worked at premier championships including U.S. Opens and the Walker Cup, while serving as a trusted mentor to new volunteers. Known for his exceptional reliability and responsiveness, Lemieux is always willing to step in when needed and can be counted on to support the USGA and its championships at the highest level.
Beyond championship play, he is the most active Rules Queue Volunteer, resolving thousands of golfer inquiries and providing daily support to the Rules team. A past president of the Northern Ohio Golf Association, he led the successful merger with the Toledo District Golf Association and is a member of Inverness Club, where he will also serve as general chair of the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally.
“I’m humbled to receive this year’s Joe Dey Award,” said Lemieux. “The opportunity to work with the amazing rules and championships staff at the USGA has been a privilege and a pleasure. It’s an honor to support the USGA and its deep commitment to the game, its traditions and its future.”
USGA Green Section Award – Paul Latshaw, Sr., of Stroudsburg, Pa.
Paul R. Latshaw, Sr., has been selected as the recipient of the USGA’s 2026 Green Section Award in recognition of a career that helped redefine championship golf course preparation and set new standards for the superintendent profession. One of the most accomplished figures in golf course maintenance history, Latshaw is the only superintendent to have hosted all three U.S. men’s majors, overseeing two U.S. Opens, four Masters Tournaments and a PGA Championship during his career that spanned from 1964 to 2001. His leadership shaped some of the game’s most iconic venues, including Oakmont Country Club, Augusta National Golf Club, Winged Foot Golf Club, Congressional Country Club, The Riviera Country Club and others.
Beyond championships, Latshaw’s influence is measured by the people and practices he helped develop. A respected mentor, over 100 former members of his staff have gone on to become superintendents, turfgrass scientists and industry leaders. He has played a key role in advancing modern course-maintenance practices, including innovations in putting-green performance, environmental management and bunker construction that remain widely used today. A 58-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Latshaw continues to impact the profession through mentorship, consulting and a lifelong commitment to excellence in turfgrass management.
“This recognition means a great deal to me,” said Paul Latshaw, Sr. “Turfgrass work is often behind the scenes, but it plays a critical role in the golfer’s experience and the long-term health of the game. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with superintendents, researchers and industry partners who are passionate about improving how we care for golf courses, and the USGA’s recognition of our work means the world.”
Herbert Warren Wind Award – Matchless: Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the Rise of Women’s Golf by Stephen Proctor
Stephen Proctor is a golf writer and historian who, in addition to Matchless: Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the Rise of Women’s Golf, has written several books on early golf history, including Monarch of the Green (2021) and The Long Golden Afternoon (2022). He previously worked as an editor at the Baltimore Sun, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Houston Chronicle, and has spent the past decade studying the history of the game.
In Matchless: Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the Rise of Women’s Golf, Proctor explores the historic rivalry between English golfer Joyce Wethered and American golfer Glenna Collett. Through extensive research and vivid storytelling, Proctor details how Wethered and Collett’s exceptional skill and international rivalry brought unprecedented attention to women’s golf, helping elevate the game during its formative years. Readers are taken on a journey from their first meeting at Troon in 1925 to their remarkable match at St. Andrews, set against the broader historical context of the era.
The book offers a glimpse into an often-forgotten chapter of golf history, illustrating how Wethered and Collett paved the way for the emergence of women’s professional golf tours and shaped the broader perceptions of the women’s game. Proctor’s book will be on display at the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, N.J., home to the world’s largest collection of golf books and periodicals, with more than 100,000 individual volumes.
“I am deeply honored to be given an award named for one of my literary idols, but it is especially gratifying to receive this recognition for Matchless, as so few stories have been written about heroines of the women’s game,” said Proctor. “Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the women upon whose shoulders they stood deserve to be celebrated as long as golf is played, and I hope this book and this award contribute to preserving the memory of their trailblazing accomplishments.”
USGA Celebrates a Milestone Year Advancing the Game “For the Good of the Game”
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – As the USGA celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Members Program today, the organization is marking a year of significant progress toward its mission to champion and advance the game for generations to come.
Starting in 1975, when Volunteer National Chair Arnold Palmer presented U.S. President Gerald R. Ford with the first Associate’s bag tag (for what is now called the USGA Members Program) in the Oval Office on Dec. 18, the program has united those who share a passion for golf and a commitment to its long-term health. Through members’ support, the program helps fund critical USGA initiatives that ensure the game’s future — from developing the next generation of American golfers to driving innovation and sustainability across the game.
“This anniversary isn’t just a moment to look back on what’s been accomplished,” said CEO Mike Whan. “It’s about looking ahead — ensuring the work we’re doing today continues to make golf stronger, more inclusive and more sustainable for the next 50 years and beyond.”
Investing in the Future of American Golf
In 2025, the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) expanded its reach to support more aspiring golfers nationwide through training, competition and access opportunities. By identifying and developing the country’s most promising juniors, the program is building a stronger pipeline for American golf — one that reflects the game’s growing diversity and global competitiveness.
This year alone, the USNDP provided more than $850k in grant funding to 109 athletes and their families from 32 different states, ensuring those with the talent to reach the highest levels of the game aren’t held back by financial constraints. Grant funding is used for costs associated with coaching, equipment, tournament travel and more.
“[The program] lifted the financial burden off my parents,” said grant recipient Jude Lee, 17, of Walnut, Calif. “Being able to travel without that extra burden of thinking about how much it was going to cost. Because of that I was able to travel around the country playing events, which helped me boost my ranking and get on the radar for recruiting for top D1 schools. Ultimately, that allowed me to earn a scholarship to Stanford, which was a total dream come true.”
The grant program is one of four pillars currently available to USNDP athletes, with U.S. National Teams, Tournament Exemptions and State Teams rounding out the program’s current offerings, which in 2025 impacted more than 500 junior athletes.
Advancing Sustainability Across the Game
The USGA continued to lead the way in helping golf courses become more resource-efficient and environmentally responsible. Launching its Water Conservation Playbook in March, the USGA Green Section renewed its longstanding commitment to helping facilities nationwide lower costs and conserve water with practical, science-based strategies.
The USGA also awarded 15 new Davis Grants, reinforcing its broader, long-standing investment in research that supports a healthier environment, stronger communities and better playing conditions. As the largest private turfgrass and environmental research grant program in golf, the Mike Davis Program for Advancing Golf Course Management annually supports more than 60 international projects with $2 million of funding, contributing to the more than $55 million the USGA has invested over the past 40 years. This investment has helped courses operate more sustainably, delivering nearly $2 billion in annual benefits, and strengthening the game’s long-term health.
Building Golf’s Future Workforce
The USGA continued to invest in programs that create career pathways and open doors to the next generation of leaders in golf, including directly funding more than 370 internships. In 2025, the organization hosted its fourth annual Pathways Discover Program, a 10-day immersive experience that introduces 24 college and graduate students from a wide range of backgrounds to the many facets of the golf industry through education, hands-on training and networking. This year also marked the launch of Pathways Launch, a new collaboration between the USGA and nine leading golf organizations, including the PGA TOUR and Pinehurst Resort, designed to widen the pipeline of future leaders and make the industry more accessible and inclusive ahead of its 2026 debut.
In addition, the USGA reinforced its ongoing support of the nationwide P.J. Boatwright Internship Program, helping to provide meaningful entry-level experiences at Allied Golf Associations across the country and ensuring a strong, diverse talent pipeline for the game’s future. In 2025, the USGA provided $2.1M in funding to AGAs to support the hiring of 219 interns.
The USGA also expanded the Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program (GAP) in its third year, adding Horry Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach, S.C., alongside the original location at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst. The free, one-year curriculum combines classroom instruction with on-course experience, offering students a well-rounded pathway into golf course management and helping address the industry’s critical need for a qualified workforce.
“This is my first job in golf course maintenance. I moved down here from Minnesota alone, which was a big leap,” said GAP student Brooke Heikkila. “Now I feel confident in what I’m doing—and that’s thanks to the mentors and instructors who have supported me the whole way. When I started, I thought I’d just try it out for a year because it was free. I wasn’t sure if this industry was for me. But now, I love it. I want to stay in it for the rest of my career.”
Of the 33 graduates from the first two years of GAP, 85 percent are still in the industry, and 48 percent have earned job promotions.
Men’s Division Champions Crowned at 2025 PGA National Club Championship
Daniel Mills, Chris Hummel and Brian Little claim titles at PGA WEST and Indian Wells Golf Resort in Southern California
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. ー The Men’s Divisions at the 2025 PGA National Club Championship provided plenty of drama as they wrapped up Monday in Southern California. Three amateur club champions ultimately came away with hard-fought victories, including two via playoffs.
The Championship featured three Men’s Divisions: Open (any age), Senior (50+ years old) and Legend (65+ years old) competing on the Pete Dye Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament Courses at PGA WEST and the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort.
Two divisions were decided in playoffs, with Daniel Mills (Kenwood Golf & Country Club, Bethesda, Md.) emerging victorious in the Open Division and Chris Hummel (Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, Ala.) claiming his second consecutive Senior Division title. Brian Little (Troon Country Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.) took the Legend Division by two shots with a final score of 4-under 212.
Mills defeated Michael Schnegelberger (Heritage Park Golf Course, Olathe, Kan.) in a playoff for the Open Division after both finished at 6-under 210.
“Growing up, winning the club championship was always the goal, and it took me a little while to finally win it,” said the 27-year-old Mills. “I think coming here was more of a celebration of that, but being a competitive person, I think being a champion among other club champions, it means a lot. It’s really fun. I never really thought I’d win this thing, but this is really cool, really special.”
Entering the day tied atop the leaderboard, Mills and the 40-year-old Schnegelberger battled throughout Monday’s final round at PGA WEST’s Stadium Course. The pair traded leads before a two-stroke swing on hole 16 gave Mills a one-shot margin after he birdied the par-5 against Schnegelberger’s bogey. With a chance to win in regulation, Mills hit his opening shot on the 18th hole into the water. While he managed to save bogey, he would need a playoff to win, but he “wasn’t too worried about it.”
“I thought I made a really good swing off the tee and the ball just sliced about 20 yards,” said Mills of his shot on 18. “I knew I made a good swing on it, and sometimes the ball just doesn’t react well. I didn’t think much of it honestly. I had the same tee shot then maybe 15 minutes later [in the playoff]. I knew I could make a good swing on it.”
On the playoff hole, both Mills and Schnegelberger missed the fairway right and found themselves in a bunker. Mills, on a downhill lie off the face of the bunker, found the back of the green while Schnegelberger found water. Mills was able to putt out to win the Open Division, an honor he’s excited to share with the people back at Kenwood Golf & Country Club.
“I’ve been playing at Kenwood since I was a little kid in grade school,” said Mills. “I’ve got a bunch of buddies out there that I play with. This has been really fun getting texts from them throughout the tournament. I’m very excited to bring this thing back home.”
Mills credited the PGA of America Golf Professionals he’s worked with along the way.
“Back when I was still learning the game, my teaching pro was Pete Labourdette,” he said. “He’s moved to another club (nearby Lakewood Country Club), but Pete’s been great for me. The Head Pro, Lynne Hunter, at Kenwood has been great. Kenwood runs an excellent golf program. They continue to cater to the youth. They’re teaching new people the game that I love and they do such a great job of it. I’m very appreciative of them.”
Damian Telles (Sterling Grove Golf & Country Club, Surprise, Ariz.) finished just one shot behind Mills and Schnegelberger in third place at 5-under 211. Braylon Bingham (Cedar Ridge Golf Course, Cedar City, Utah) was fourth at 4-under 212 followed by Adam DeArmond (Bonita National Golf & Country Club, Bonita Springs, Fla.) in fifth at 1-under 215.
In the Senior Division, it came down to a playoff between previous champions as Hummel, who won the 2024 edition, took on Chad Scott, the 2022 Senior Champion from Ashland Golf Club in Ashland, Ohio. Hummel won on the first playoff hole after the two finished at 6-under 210.
“Chad, obviously a former champ, has been playing great all day,” Hummel said while recounting the playoff hole. “He hit his drive a little right off the tee marker, and I didn’t see it. I hit a good one. He was down in the sand waste area and hit a shot into the water. So, then I was able to just kind of hit the ball in the middle of the green and try to two putt to get out of there.”
The win gave Hummel his second consecutive Senior Division title following his win at the 2024 PGA National Club Championship held in March 2025 at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play in both of them and play well,” said the 54-year-old Hummel, who is honored to represent Greystone Golf & Country Club in Alabama. “I hit a lot of good iron shots today, and I finally made a few putts. I missed several birdie putts, but I made a few when I needed to. That was really the difference.”
Scott had surged up the leaderboard with a Championship-low 6-under 66 on the Celebrity Course in the second round, leaving Hummel one shot behind him in a tie for second heading into Monday. The pair battled in the final round, both going even-par through their first nine holes. Hummel found his momentum with three straight birdies on holes 14-16, and if not for a bogey on 17, he would have won without a playoff.
“Chad was up there close on 14, and I made about a 20-footer to try to stay with him,” said Hummel. “Then on the par-5 [15th], I hit the green in two shots and had about a 15-footer for eagle and ended up with a 2-putt there for birdie. And then I made another little swinger putt from about 15 feet for that third birdie in a row. That really got it going there to try to close the gap because Chad was playing so good all day.”
Coleman Tidwell, the 2020 Senior Division Champion from Idle Hour Golf & Country Club in Macon, Ga., finished third at 3-under 213. David Burroughs (Serrano Country Club, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) was fourth at 2-under 214 followed by Paul Erdman (Robson Ranch Golf Club, Eloy, Ariz.) in fifth at 1-under 215.
Although there was no playoff, the Legend Division was just as close atop the leaderboard. Little shot a 3-under 69 on the Celebrity Course Monday, giving him the low round of the day in the Legend Division and securing his two-shot victory.
“It was fun,” said the 68-year-old Little. “Both my wife and I have played in it before. It was a close match with the two guys I was playing with. Just a fun day and really nice weather.”
Little carded five birdies against two bogeys in the final round, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13, the latter of which included a memorable wedge shot to about 8 inches.
“For the most part, I stayed away from trouble,” said Little. “That was the biggest thing I did. I was pretty steady all the way around and didn’t get myself in too many jams.”
Randy Hicken (Timpanogos Golf Club, Provo, Utah) finished second in the Legend Division at 2-under 214 followed by Jon Valuck (1-under 215) from the The Mirabel Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., in third and John Brennan (5-over 221) from Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz., in fourth.
The PGA National Club Championship features amateur club champions from facilities across the country with a PGA of America Golf Professional. Winners of any 2025 club championship received an invitation to compete from their PGA of America Golf Professional.
All champions receive a five-year exemption into the PGA National Club Championship, and the top five finishers in each division will be invited to compete in next year’s championship.
Kevin Hammer Nominated as USGA President
The USGA has announced that Kevin Hammer of Florida has been nominated to serve as the Association’s 68th president.
Hammer’s nomination highlights the USGA Nominating Committee’s 2026 Executive Committee slate, joined by Brenda Corrie Kuehn of North Carolina and Suzy Whaley of Florida, who have each been nominated to serve on the USGA Executive Committee, a volunteer group of 15 people that provides strategic and financial oversight as the Association’s policymaking and governance board.
Leslie Henry of Texas, Bryan Lewis of Michigan, Michael McCarthy of California and Andy North of Wisconsin have all been nominated to serve a second three-year term on the Committee.
The election of Executive Committee members will take place at the USGA Annual Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in New York, N.Y.
Hammer, who will assume the presidency from Fred Perpall of Texas, is a former first-team American Junior Golf Association All-American who played collegiately at the University of Florida and has qualified for multiple USGA championships. He spent 10 years as a member of the Florida State Golf Association Executive Committee, including two years as president from 2020-21. Hammer, who is entering his fifth year as a member of the USGA Executive Committee, currently chairs the USGA’s Championship Committee and serves on the Compensation & Leadership Development, Governance, International Team Selection and Nominating committees.
Professionally, Hammer has been with Merrill Lynch for more than 25 years. He currently serves as the managing director of the firm’s Rubin, Hammer, Eaton & Conrad Wealth Management Group, which manages investments for individuals, families, foundations and professional athletes.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Kevin Hammer as the next president of the USGA,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “His deep passion for golf, experience and relationships across all levels of the game, and unwavering commitment to our mission make him the ideal person to lead our executive committee into the future. Together, we’ll continue driving the game forward, strengthening its future and deepening its impact.”
Joining Hammer, Henry, Lewis, McCarthy and North in returning to the USGA Executive Committee are: Sinclair Eaddy Jr. of Maryland; Andrew Biggadike of New Jersey; Dianne Dixon of Florida, David Dorton of Georgia; Virginia C. Drosos of Texas; Cathy Engelbert of New Jersey; Jim Gorrie of Alabama; and David Leitch of Virginia.
Per the association’s bylaws, if elected Kuehn and Whaley will each serve a three-year term beginning in 2026, with the potential to be elected for a second and final three-year term in 2029. They will assume seats vacated by Perpall, who will conclude his term as president at the USGA’s Annual Meeting in February, and Courtney Myhrum of Pennsylvania, who will retire after consecutive three-year terms on the Executive Committee.
Kuehn, a native of the Dominican Republic, earned her business degree from Wake Forest University, where she was a captain of the women’s golf team and three-time All-American with six individual victories, including the 1986 ACC Championship. After a brief professional career highlighted by one victory on the LPGA’s developmental Futures Tour, she regained her amateur status and earned her MBA at Babson College.
Her extensive playing career includes appearances in more than 60 USGA championships, including nine U.S. Women’s Opens. She is a two-time runner-up – in the 1995 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2023 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur – and represented the USA in the 1996 and 1998 Curtis Cup Matches and Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, where she also represented the Dominican Republic, in 1986 and 2018. Within her home state, she has twice been named the Carolinas Golf Association Woman Golfer of the Year, with two Women’s Carolinas Amateur and two NC Senior Women’s Amateur titles.
She has been enshrined in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame, the NCAA Golf Coaches Hall of Fame, the Dominican Golf Hall of Fame and the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame, where she and her father are the only golfers to have been inducted.
Professionally, Kuehn founded Stateside Services Inc., an international export service company that serviced eight countries in a variety of industries. When her father passed in 2005, she took over the family investment firm with the help of her sister. Kuehn has served at the board level at a variety of organizations, including the Corrie Foundation, Las Lagunas Golf Club, Henla Family Office and Valores Leon. She is currently a member of the Carolinas Golf Association Executive Committee and is a strong supporter of junior and women’s golf in her home state.
Whaley, a decorated professional and instructor, is well-known for her innovative leadership and commitment to teaching and growing the game. She was elected president of the PGA of America in 2018 – the first female elected to the position in the association’s history. During her tenure, she guided the Association through the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, launching the $8 million Golf Emergency Relief Fund to support golf industry personnel and spearheading the Back2Golf initiative alongside the CDC to ensure the safe return of play – resulting in record growth in rounds played.
Among her many accolades, Whaley has been named one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America, Golf Digest Top 50 Instructor, LPGA Top 50 Instructor, two-time Connecticut PGA Teacher of the Year, 10-time Golf Digest State Teacher of the Year and U.S. Kids Golf Master Kids Teacher. She earned her Master Professional status from the PGA of America in 2018. She has coached more than 300 junior golfers to the collegiate level and led teams at five PGA Junior League Championship finals. She has been honored with the Walter Hagen Ambassador of the Game Award (2023); Metropolitan Golf Association’s Distinguished Service Award (2019); AJGA’s Betsy Rawls Award (2017); Sports Business Journal Game Changer (2015); and the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun’s Margo Dydek Award (2015). She is a member of the Connecticut Section PGA Hall of Fame (2025), the PGA of America Hall of Fame (2023), Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame (2022), Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame and the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.
Competitively, Whaley played on the LPGA Tour in 1990 and 1993. In 2003, following her win at the Connecticut PGA Championship, she became the first woman since Babe Zaharias (1945) to qualify for a PGA Tour event, playing in the Greater Hartford Open. Among her competitive accolades, she is a three-time Connecticut Women’s Open champion, National LPGA T&CP champion, Connecticut PGA Section champion, Connecticut PGA Club Professional Champion and two-time LPGA Northeast T&CP section champion. She has played in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, LPGA Senior Women’s Championship and PGA Professional Championship.
Whaley, a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a degree in economics, is an advisor for and past president of Golf Nation, a pioneering online and connected TV OTT channel that blends golf lifestyle with video content on a shop-able streaming platform. She also serves as a golf broadcast analyst and commentator FOR PGA Tour Live and ESPN. She previously ran her own coaching business, Suzy Whaley Golf, and was an instructor at Jim Flick Golf Schools before becoming the head golf professional at Blue Fox Run in Avon, Conn. She currently serves on the ANNIKA Foundation Board, is an advisor for Sportsbox AI, and is the honorary chair for the PGA Reach Capital Campaign.
Metedeconk National G.C. Awarded 2029 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Metedeconk National Golf Club, in Jackson Township, N.J., has been chosen by the USGA as the host site for the 2029 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. It will be the first USGA championship contested at the club.
“We’re proud to bring a USGA championship to Metedeconk National Golf Club for the first time,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. “Metedeconk’s commitment to excellence and its championship-caliber design will provide an exceptional experience for players and a worthy test for the game’s best amateurs.”
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Roger Rulewich, Metedeconk National first opened its doors in 1987. When the 1,200-acre plot was purchased by Richard and Herb Sambol in the 1970s, it was intended for residential development. The Sambols planned to also build a golf course as an amenity to draw investors to develop houses on the land. As the project progressed, Richard Sambol – with the inspiration of Jones – changed the plans from a housing development to a championship-level golf facility that features 27 holes.
“Metedeconk National Golf Club is honored to host its first USGA championship, and we are looking forward to partnering with the USGA to provide a world-class event for our competitors,” said club president Robert DiLeo. “On behalf of our members, we are excited to welcome the world’s best amateurs to our exceptional club.”
The golf course, which can be stretched to more than 7,400 yards, features multiple teeing options and several water hazards, hallmarks of a Jones design. Located less than 30 miles east of Trenton, the layout winds through marshland and lowland pine forest, providing both beauty and strategic challenge.
This will be the second U.S. Amateur Four-Ball conducted in the state of New Jersey, and the first of back-to-back Four-Balls to be played in the Garden State. The Ridgewood Country Club, in Paramus, will host the 2030 championship, and earlier this year, Will Hartman and Tyler Mawhinney won the title with their 3-and-1 victory over Evan Beck and Dan Walters at Plainfield C.C., in Edison in the final match. The duo became the fourth set of teens in championship history to win the title.
The championship will also be the 66th USGA championship in the state. In 2022, Sam Bennett ousted Ben Carr, 1 up, to win the U.S. Amateur at Ridgewood Country Club. Michael Thorbjornsen defeated Akshay Bhatia, 1 up, to claim the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol G.C., in Springfield. One year prior, Sung Hyun Park shot 11-under 277 to capture the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National G.C. (Old Course), in Bedminster.
The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball was first played in 2015 and in 2025, the championship received 2,482 entries (sides). The championship is open to amateur golfers whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 2.4. A starting field of 128 sides (256 players) will play two rounds of stroke play, with the low 32 sides (64 players) advancing to match play. Five 18-hole rounds of match play will determine the champion. The champions are awarded an exemption into that year’s U.S. Amateur, which in 2029 will be held at Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio.
The stroke-play co-host venue for the championship has not yet been announced.
Future U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Sites
2026 – Desert Mountain Club (Cochise Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
2027 – Erin Hills, Erin, Wis.
2028 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash.
2029 – Metedeconk National Golf Club, Jackson, N.J.
2030 – The Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, N.J.
2037 – Bandon (Ore.) Dunes Golf Resort
GOLFZON to Become Official Indoor Golf Simulator of the U.S. Open Presented by Ally
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – GOLFZON, the global market leader in golf simulator technology, and the USGA today announced a multi-year partnership, making GOLFZON the Official Indoor Golf Simulator of two of golf’s most notable championships, the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally. The newly launched national partnership will debut during the USGA’s 2026 championship season, beginning at the U.S. Women’s Open, set to be played at the iconic Riviera Country Club, in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Since GOLZON’s inception in 2000, the brand’s mission has been to make golf more fun and accessible with industry-leading technology that delivers the most realistic indoor golf experience. Key benefits of the partnership will include:
On-Site Integration of Championship Fan Experiences: With GOLFZON, fans and hospitality guests will be able to test their skills while earning prizes with interactive best-in-class indoor golf simulators onsite at the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
Collaborative Support of the GOLFZON Tour: The USGA will provide support for the GOLFZON Tour, which features teams from major cities across the country competing against one another in real-time via GOLFZON’s Network Play function, culminating in a championship match where the top teams will face off for a $300,000 grand prize. The USGA will collaborate with GOLFZON to create a co-branded event to be integrated within the tour.
“We’re thrilled to partner with GOLFZON to bring our fans and hospitality guests a world-class indoor golf simulator experience that perfectly complements what fans have come to expect at our national championships,” said Jon Podany, chief commercial officer at the USGA. “GOLFZON’s on-site presence will elevate the fan experience and deliver added value to our hospitality clients. This partnership is another step forward in providing our fans the best experience in golf.”
Based in Seoul, South Korea, GOLFZON has over 20 years of experience developing the world’s most advanced golf simulators with nearly 13,000 locations worldwide and over 100 million shots taken on GOLZON simulators last year. With technology at its core, the company holds over 378 patents for its award-winning simulators and continues to file new patents annually, establishing GOLFZON’s global leadership position.
“It’s a privilege to partner with the USGA to bring GOLFZON’s immersive simulators on-site to the prestigious U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open,” said Sean Pyun, CEO, GOLFZON America. “Those attending these events will have a unique opportunity to experience our industry-leading simulator technology, including the GOLFZON Motion Plate, a 64-directional moving swing plate which allows players to hit from 56,000 distinct lies, while testing their skills on historic and upcoming USGA venues.”
Simulator golf participation in the U.S. has surged from 3.6 million five years ago to 8.1 million users in 2024, according to The National Golf Foundation, reflecting a rising demand for immersive indoor golf experiences.
Exmoor Country Club Awarded 2033 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – As the 38th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur continues in Northern California, the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Exmoor Country Club, in Highland Park, Ill., will host the 2033 edition of the championship. It will be the third USGA championship held at the club, but the first since 1965.
“The USGA is thrilled to return to Exmoor Country Club, a venue with a rich history and deep ties to women’s amateur golf,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. “Exmoor has been a long-standing figure in the Chicago golf community, and we look forward to providing an exceptional experience both on and off the golf course for the best female mid-amateurs in the game.”
Located 28 miles north of Chicago, Exmoor C.C. was founded in 1896 as the third golf club in the state of Illinois. C.B. Macdonald designed the original nine holes before Donald Ross redesigned the layout in 1915, which remained largely unchanged until a restoration by Ron Pritchard in 2003.
“Exmoor Country Club is honored to be selected as the site for the 2033 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur,” said Exmoor Country Club President Tom Van Vuren. “We are excited to welcome the USGA back to our historic course and build upon our nearly century-long history of championship golf. We are delighted to be able to continue our relationship with the USGA and look forward to an exciting future.”
Exmoor Country Club hosted the 4th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. That year, Loma Smith successfully defended her title, edging Charlotte Haskell by three strokes when the competition was conducted over 54 holes of stroke play.
The club’s USGA history, however, dates to 1933, when it hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Virginia Van Wie claimed the second of her three consecutive Women’s Am titles with a 4-and-3 victory over Helen Hicks.
This will be the 23rd USGA championship held in the state of Illinois, and first since 2018 when Laura Davies won the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club, in Wheaton by 10 strokes over Juli Inkster. In 2015, Bryson DeChambeau captured the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Fields Country Club (North Course) with a 7-and-6 victory over Derek Bard.
The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur is open to female amateurs age 25 and older with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 9.4. This year’s championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club received a record 616 entries. The championship field features 132 players who compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is cut to the low 64 scorers for match play. The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion earns an exemption into the following year’s U.S. Women’s Open, which in 2034 will be held at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa.
Future U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Sites
2026 – Montclair Golf Club, West Orange, N.J.
2027 – Country Club of Buffalo, Williamsville, N.Y.
2028 – Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club
2030 – Sand Valley Resort (The Lido), Nekoosa, Wis.
2032 – Jupiter Hills Club, Tequesta, Fla.
2033 – Exmoor Country Club, Highland Park, Ill.
2034 – The Golf Club of Tennessee, Kingston Springs, Tenn.
