The Country Club of North Carolina has been named as host course of the 74th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, the United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced.
The championship, which is scheduled to take place from 19-24 July, is the third USGA event hosted by the club, which is located in the village of Pinehurst, N.C.
A long-standing relationship
On the announcement, Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee chairman, said: “The Country Club of North Carolina and amateur golf have a long-standing relationship and the USGA is appreciative of this continued and passionate commitment.
“The U.S. Junior Amateur is junior golf’s most prestigious championship and we look forward to identifying a champion for the first time in the state of North Carolina in 2021.”
As announced last year, the USGA will change the format of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship from 2020.
A new format
In the new format, the field will be expanded from 156 players; two courses will be used for the 36-hole stroke play portion of the championship.
The Country Club of North Carolina’s Dogwood Course will be the host site of both stroke play and match play, while the Cardinal Course will be the stroke play co-host for the 2021 Junior Amateur.
Tom Beddow, club president, said The Country Club of North Carolina was “honoured” to be among the prestigious clubs to host the event.
“CCNC has a great history of tradition of supporting amateur golf and we have the experience, infrastructure and committed staff and group of volunteers who will help make this a memorable championship.”
A rich history
The history of the U.S. Junior Amateur is a rich one. The event was first played in 1948 and is open to amateurs who have not reached their 19th birthday by the conclusion of the tournament and have a Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4.
Notable winners of the U.S. Junior Amateur include Tiger Woods (three times), Jordan Spieth (twice) and Johnny Miller.
The 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur will take place 15-20 July at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, while the 2020 event is scheduled for 20-25 July at Hazeltine National Golf Club and Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minnesota.
See also: Braden Thornberry Wins Mark H. McCormack Medal