From Pinehurst to Tour Invitations: Elite Amateur Series Is Delivering
Launched in 2021, the Elite Amateur Golf Series brought structure to the top of amateur golf by uniting seven leading men's tournaments and five premier women's events into a single competitive circuit. Players who compete in at least three Series events earn points toward the Elite Amateur Cup, which comes with major incentives: exemptions into USGA qualifiers and invitations to select PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events.
Series Format and Professional Advancement
The season-long points race gives top amateur players a direct path to the next level. High finishers earn entry to the final qualifying for both the US Open and the US Amateur. The Cup winner and other leaders can receive invitations to professional events, including the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
(eliteamateurgolfseries.org). This system connects elite amateur success with professional opportunities.
2024 to 2025 Elite Amateur Event Champions
These recent winners highlight how the Series continues to spotlight future stars:
Carlos Astiazaran (Vanderbilt)
Won the 125th North and South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 by defeating Tyler Watts in a playoff on the 19th hole.Mackenzie Lee (SMU)
Captured the North and South Women's Amateur with a match-play win over Jazy Roberts.Preston Stout (Oklahoma State)
Won the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club by eight shots after rounds of 69, 61, 72, and 65 to finish nine under.Tyler Watts (Tennessee commit)
At age 17, he reached the North and South Amateur final, earned medalist honors at the Northeast Amateur, and became the youngest winner in Sunnehanna Amateur history with a 19-under total that set a new scoring record.
Elite Amateur Series Event Lineup
Men's Tournaments
• Sunnehanna Amateur
• Northeast Amateur
• North and South Amateur
• Trans Mississippi Amateur
• Southern Amateur
• Pacific Coast Amateur
• Western Amateur
View Men's Schedule
Women's Tournaments
• Sea Island Women's Amateur
• Southwestern Women's Amateur
• North and South Women's Amateur
• Women's Western Amateur
• LNGA Amateur Championship
View Women's Schedule
What This Means
The Elite Amateur Golf Series is more than a points race. It is a launchpad. Astiazaran earned national recognition, Lee added a major title to her resume, Stout dominated one of the toughest fields in amateur golf, and Watts is fast becoming one of the best junior players in the country. The Series is proving itself as the direct bridge from amateur golf to the professional stage.
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