Megan Lee had nothing to lose, so she filled out the application and hit send.
The Class of 2027 golfer from Texas was not a participant in the U.S. National Development Program, which is why she filled out the application. She wanted a chance to play in bigger events and prove she belonged. She thought the United States Golf Association’s bloom program for junior golfers across the country was a great start.
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The USGA evaluated her resume, and thanks to a partnership with the United States Junior Golf Association, the USGA granted Lee an exemption to compete in the local Jordan Spieth AJGA event. Lee, who had nothing to lose, finished in second place. She currently has a full waiver for the 2026 AJGA.
Lee’s story is just one of dozens over the past few years. Thanks to the partnership between the USGA and AJGA, dozens of players who would otherwise be unable to attend prestigious AJGA tournaments were given the opportunity to play. And they have had a lot of success.
In 2025, 262 children took advantage of the AJGA exemption granted to the USGA and played in a total of 302 games. This group had 66 top-10 finishes, 26 top-5 finishes and seven wins. Additionally, many players earned spots in more AJGA events through their accomplishments, and 10 earned “full exemption” AJGA status for the remainder of the season.
“This was very important because it is such an honor to play with some of the best junior golfers in the country in this prestigious tournament,” Lee said. “I observed a lot from other people’s games and tried to apply it to myself. This exemption helped me stay motivated and positive about my game.”
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The AJGA runs most of the top junior tournaments in the country. As the USNDP program continues to expand across the United States, more states add programs, and the USGA continues to identify and evaluate talent, the AJGA has decided to grant the USGA several exemptions to its events. So far, it has been an incredible success.
The USGA was able to identify local athletes not participating in the national schedule and give them an opportunity to compete in a strong field at the prestigious event. Through state teams and grant programs, the USGA identifies players and provides a platform to showcase their talent.
“It’s refreshing to partner with a group that has a history of win-win relationships,” said AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin. “Partnering with the USGA gives us a lot of confidence. We felt we could contribute to their growth.”
tommy evans
Tommy Evans is another golfer who found great success thanks to the AJGA exemption. USNDP first identified Evans in 2024 through a referral from the West Virginia Golf Association. After evaluating his performance and potential, the USNDP granted Tommy an exemption to compete in the AJGA event, where he finished in fourth place. Later that year, he received a USGA grant.
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Since then, he has committed to play at West Virginia and has won five tournaments, including the AJGA Vaughn Taylor Championship and the West Virginia Junior Amateur, earning him a full waiver in the AJGA.
“The biggest thing I took away from that week was to be grateful for the opportunity I was given,” Evans said of his first waiver. “Golfers have a tendency to just focus on scores and finishes when they should just be happy to have a chance to compete. I’ve carried this into every tournament I’ve played since. It allows me to play freely and enjoy the company of the wonderful, well-mannered kids that the AJGA Tour produces.”
Former LPGA professional Heather Daley Donofrio is the USGA’s Managing Director of Player Relations and Development, and her responsibilities include the development and implementation of USNDP and national teams, including talent identification, athlete resources, athlete development, athlete and parent education, and USNDP grant programs.
She sees how the partnership between the USGA and AJGA has helped give more kids the opportunity to showcase their talents. And she thinks it could continue to improve junior golf in the U.S.
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“It was a great partnership. If we had started this a long time ago, American golf would have been even stronger than it is today,” Daley-Donofrio said. “Even if not all players go on to become professionals, we will always benefit when industry leaders can come together for America’s junior golfers.”
Looking back on his days as a junior golfer, mostly playing in high school tournaments, Daley Donofrio didn’t know much about other programs for junior golfers.
Currently, most of the top juniors in the country are playing on the national schedule, especially in the summer. But for kids looking for a breakthrough, an AJGA exemption through the USGA is one way for players like Lee and Evans to prove they belong. The statistics bear this out, and this partnership will only grow stronger in 2026 and beyond.
“We know that AJGA’s mission truly helps the next generation achieve their college goals,” Daley-Donofrio said. “And part of our mission in the U.S. National Development Program is to develop players and provide a pathway for them to reach the highest levels of the game.
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“It’s always great when organizations like the USGA and AJGA can work together to benefit junior golfers and help individuals achieve their goals in the game. We’re so much further along than we were 20 years ago, and, as you know, there are so many different resources and different avenues available to players to hone their game.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: How the USGA and AJGA partnership is transforming junior golf in America
