ATHENS, GA (June 16, 2026) – 156 top-ranked junior golfers will travel to Athens, Georgia to compete for the 54th Southern Junior Championship title from June 17-19, 2026. The field is represented by over twenty-four states, one territory, and nine countries.

Championship Links: Practice Rounds | Starting Times (Round 1) | Scoring & Results | Club Website | Championship Website | Southern Junior Spectator Guide

This year marks the 54th playing of the Southern Junior Championship and the first time that University Golf Course has hosted the Southern Junior Championship. Bailey Sutter of Cullman, Alabama won the title in 2025 at Dataw Island Club in St. Helena Island, SC with a score of 206 (-10). The Championship was first played in 1973 with Buddy Rountree from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida winning the inaugural event. Charles Howell III, of Augusta, Georgia holds the record with 3 victories (1994-1996). 

Player Exemptions
Players in the categories listed below are exempt into the 2026 Southern Junior Championship if otherwise eligible

• Any previous Southern Junior or Southern Amateur Champion 
• Players who finished in Top 10 and ties at the 2025 Southern Junior Championship  
• Players who posted a 36-hole score at the 2025 Southern Amateur Championship 
• Players ranked inside the Top 125 of Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings as of March 3, 2026 
• Players ranked inside the Top 125 of Rolex AJGA Rankings as of March 3, 2026 
• Players ranked in World Amateur Golf Rankings by May 5, 2026 
• Any player extended an invitation by the SGA Junior Competition Committee

Championship Facts
Yardage: 7001 yards
Course/Slope Rating: 74.4/137
2025 Champion: Bailey Sutter of Cullman, AL
Most Titles: Charles Howell III of Augusta (3)

Format

• 54 holes of stroke play. 
• The field will be cut to the low 50 players and ties after 36 holes.
• The lowest score for 54 holes will be the Champion.
• In the event of a tie for the Championship, a hole-by-hole playoff will be held immediately following play. The playoff holes and their order of play will be determined by the Rules Committee.
• Initial groupings will be for Rounds 1 and 2; the field will be cut and grouped by score after Round 2 for Round 3.

Eligibility
Entries are open to any male amateur golfer who has a current Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4 under the World Handicap System as of the close of entries, and has reached his 14th birthday by June 17, 2026, but not his 19th birthday by June 19, 2026. Entrants cannot be a member of a college golf team or have participated in any supervised team activities.

Championship Schedule
Tuesday, June 16
7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Player Registration. 
8:00 a.m.-3:31 p.m.: Practice rounds off #1 tee. 

Wednesday, June 17
Round 1: Tee times from 8:00am-10:00am & 1:00pm-3:00pm off #1 & #10 tee. 11:00am-3:00pm: Hosted Player Lunch.

Thursday, June 18
Round 2: Tee times from 8:00am-10:00am & 1:00pm-3:00pm off #1 & #10 tee
11:00am-3:00pm: Hosted Player Lunch. 
Cut field to low 50 + ties 
Field re-grouped according to score.

Friday, June 19
Round 3: Tee times from 8:00am-10:00am off #1 & #10 tee. 
11:00am-3:00pm: Hosted Player Lunch. 
The awards ceremony immediately follows play on the back lawn of the golf shop.

Exemptions & Rankings Earned: 

• Champion receives an exemption into the 2027 Southern Amateur Championship.
• Champion receives an exemption into all future Southern Junior Championships in which he is eligible to compete. 
• Champion receives Fully Exempt Status with AJGA for 2 seasons (2026 & 2027) if eligible to compete.
• 1st-25th places receives AJGA Stars.
• Players making the 36-hole cut receive Rolex AJG Ranking points.

For more information about the Southern Junior Championship, visit the Southern Golf Association website. 

About the Southern Golf Association (SGA)
The Southern Golf Association, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest golf organizations and serves member clubs over a 15-state area. Recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Regional Golf Associations as one of the leaders in the promotion of Amateur Golf, SGA championships are selected for inclusion as criteria for selecting players for USGA and State team competitions. Through the years, SGA Champions have been chosen to represent various state golf associations in selected team competitions, including the Walker Cup and World Amateur. The SGA is host to the Southern Junior Championship as well as the Southern Amateur Championship each year.

For more information about the Southern Golf Association, visit www.southerngolf.org
 

Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Southern Golf Association
205-979-1234
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