USGA Exemption Events

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (March 21, 2024) – The Carolinas Golf Association is excited and honored to announce that for the first time, beginning in 2024, eight Carolinas Golf Association Champions will receive exemptions directly into USGA Championships. The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced a series of changes to its championship qualifying process, including exemptions for future CGA champions beginning this year.  Eight CGA Championships referred to as USGA Exemption Events, give opportunities for the top golfers in the Carolinas to compete at the national level.

THE 8 EXEMPTIONS

1. The 2024 Carolinas Amateur Champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship.
   1. The top 5 finishers in the Carolinas Amateur Championship will be exempt from U.S. Amateur local qualifying in 2025.
   2. Garrett Risner, the 2023 Carolinas Amateur Champion, is exempt from local qualifying in 2024.
2. The 2024 Carolinas Women’s Amateur Champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
3. The 2024 Carolinas Junior Boys’ Champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
4. The 2024 Carolinas Junior Girls’ Champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.
5. The 2024 North Carolina Amateur Champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship.
   1. The top 3 finishers in the North Carolina Amateur Championship will be exempt from U.S. Amateur local qualifying in 2025.
   2. Walker Isley, the 2023 North Carolina Amateur Champion, is exempt from local qualifying in 2024.
6. The 2024 North Carolina Women’s Amateur Champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
7. The 2024 North Carolina Junior Boys’ Champion will earn exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
8. The 2024 North Carolina Junior Girls’ Champion will earn exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1909 to promote and protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support, and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is one of the largest golf associations in the country, with over 700 member clubs represented by over 200,000 individuals.

The CGA annually conducts 48 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 150 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed over $3,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives, including junior, women and adaptive programs.