Local Sports

Stewart among elite junior golfers

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. -- The United States National Development Program announced Tuesday that all 50 states have joined the USNDP State Junior Team Program, establishing a nationwide player-development pathway for elite junior golfers well ahead of schedule.

The milestone comes three years after the State Junior Team Program launched with seven pilot states in 2024. Created to expand, strengthen and diversify the pipeline of junior golfers ages 13-18, the program provides athletes with development, competition and talent-identification opportunities within their home states.

The State Junior Team Program began with California (Southern), Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee.

Beaver Local freshman Eli Stewart is one of 16 players on the Ohio USNDP Junior Team. Stewart, the top-ranked 14-year-old in Ohio, finished third in the OHSAA Division II boys state golf tournament on Monday after shooting a 3-under-par 69 in the final round at Firestone Country Club’s North Course in Akron.

The initial goal was establishing teams in all 50 states by 2033.

Nine states joined the program in 2025: Idaho, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin and California (Northern).

The program grew to 30 states following the announcement of 14 additional participating states in 2026. Those states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, Texas and Washington and will name their inaugural teams by the end of this year.

With the remaining 20 states now committed to join in 2027 and identify teams by the end of next year, the program has reached nationwide participation five years ahead of the USGA's original 2033 goal.

To be state junior team eligible, a player must be a U.S. citizen, cannot be enrolled in college, must be 13 years old by Jan. 1 and not reach his/her 19th birthday by July 15 of the year in which they would compete on a State Junior Team.

Announced in 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations, and financial support.

In February, Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Charities committed $1.5 million over three years to support the expansion of the State Junior Team component of the USNDP, helping accelerate the growth of the program.

"This is a significant moment for the U.S. National Development Program and for junior golf in this country," said Heather Daly-Donofrio, managing director of U.S. National Development Program. "When we launched the State Junior Team Program, the vision was to create meaningful development opportunities for young athletes across the country. Having all 50 states committed to the program brings that vision to life and gives us the foundation for a truly national pathway. Most importantly, it will allow more young golfers to access the resources, coaching and competitive opportunities that can help them reach their full potential."