Junior Rankings Explanation - Effective January 2025

FAQ's

Does the player's name matter?

Yes!!!  While William Smith and Billy Smith may be the same person, the computer does not know this.  Names have to match exactly for results to be applied correctly.

Who can earn points?

Junior golfers 18 and under who have not started college, who are legal residents of North or South Carolina and have played in a minimum of 5 ranked events for the Carolinas Junior Rankings. (North Carolina residents only for the North Carolina Junior Rankings.)

Is there a minimum of events that have to be played ?

Yes, juniors must play in a minimum of 5 ranked events before receiving a rank.

Are the rankings updated daily ?

No. They are updated the first full week of each month, unless otherwise noted.

What junior tournaments are used ?

Any junior event conducted in NC/SC and all states adjacent to NC (GA, TN and VA) along with pre-set national junior events.

Do amateur events receive ranking points ?

Amateur eligible championships conducted by the CGA, SCGA, WSCGA or CPGA as well as the Elite Amateur Series will receive ranking points. Qualifiers for these championships will not count towards the rankings

Why is my name not listed in the rankings ?

There are many possible reasons why your name may not be listed on the Junior Rankings:
1. You may not have 5 events under your profile
2. Your profile may not contain your hometown or high school graduation date.
3. Your name may have been misspelled from another tournament/event. Ex: do you have a nickname?

Do you have to be a member of TYGA / CGA / SCJGA to earn rankings points ?

No, players are added to the rankings automatically.

How deep in the field are points awarded ?

Each player who finishes a ranked event earns points

How are rankings determined ?

Each players total points (39%) earned and tournament scoring differential (61%) are used to determine the rankings

What is a player's tournament scoring differential ?

We take the stroke average from the ranking events the player has played in and subtract the average course rating for the course and yardage played to give each player their differential.

What is the course rating and why is it used ?

The course rating is the "USGA's mark that indicates the playing difficulty of a course for a scratch golfer under normal course and weather conditions. The rating is based on yardage and other obstacles to the extent that they affect the scoring ability of a scratch golfer."

What if a player withdraws from an event ?

If a player has more than 2 withdrawals after starting a ranked event, that player will be removed and suspended from the rankings. Withdrawal includes and is not limited to WD, JWD, NS (No Show), No Card (NC), JWD. Any players suspended from the rankings have the right to appeal with the potential to be added back with a penalty score.

How are the points awarded ?

Points are awarded based on the tier of the event and the strength of field.

What are the Tiers and how are they determined ?

Tournaments are placed into tiers based on historical data of the strength of the event. The tiers of events range from Tier VI (Prestigious national championships) to Tier I (entry level tournaments). 

 

Each tier has a determined range of points that will be allocated to the champion and subsequently the rest of the field based on the power of the event after it has been concluded

 

How is the Power (strength of field) of an event determined ?

The Power of events is determined based on the ranking of all the players who make up the field.

What about ties ?

They are split, unless an on course playoff is held and then that playoff determines the finish.

Do all divisions receive points ?

No, only the players who play from the longest yardage are awarded rankings points.

What if two or more divisions play from the longest yardage set of tee ?

Then the divisions are merged into one overall division and points are then awarded for the overall and not the divisions.

What do the rankings reflect ?

How well individual players have fared in the PAST 12 MONTHS in select tournaments.

When are high school graduates removed from rankings ?

High school graduates are deleted the September after they graduate from high school.

Is there a minimum amount of contestants in an event to be used for rankings ?

Yes, there must be at least 20 boys or 5 girls playing from the longest set of tees in each event before the results can be used.

Can players "play up" a division to earn points ?

That is up to the tournament committee for each ranked event.

Do you add events in mid-season ?

Yes. A boys' tournament with 20 boys or a girls' tournament with 5 girls playing the longest set of tees in that event will be used. The tier for those events will be set after the results are received and evaluated based on the strength of the field.

Can the tier of an event be adjusted after the competition ?

While each event is judged on the previous year’s field, the rankings committee reserves the right to adjust the which tier the event is placed in after the conclusion of the event.

Does a round being canceled affect the points awarded?

No. For example, if 54 hole event is shortened to 36 holes, the points awarded will not be affected.

What if a round is shortened to 9 holes?

Rounds shortened to 9 holes will not be used for rankings. When 9 holes rounds are eliminated, the rankings results are based off all 18-hole rounds completed and may be different from the actual player finish position published by the tournament

Why only individual events?

We do not use Four-Ball or team score events because results do not reflect the contribution of two players in all cases. In some cases, one player may "carry" the other.

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