| AJGA
Rankings Take on New Significance
By now,
you are probably familiar with the AJGA Rankings. In
2005, they were called the AJGA Invitational Rankings
and were used as a means to fill unclaimed spots in
AJGA Invitationals.
The
rankings also proved to be valuable as an extra tool
for the selection committee in naming the Rolex Junior
All-America Teams.
Because
of the rankings’ accuracy in identifying the players
who had the best year in junior golf, they will take
a more central role in 2006 as the AJGA strives toward
objectivity.
OBJECTIVITY
You’ve
seen it with Performance Based Entry. Years ago, the
AJGA introduced PBE and put an end to the resume process,
where a committee sorted through resumes to fill a tournament
field. With the new emphasis on the AJGA Rankings, this
move toward objectivity will take another giant leap
forward.
HOW
THE RANKINGS WILL BE USED
The
new AJGA Rankings will be a valuable tool in selecting
the Rolex Junior All-America Teams. |
1)
The AJGA will continue to use the rankings to round
out the fields at AJGA Invitationals.
Most spots in these fields will be filled through established
criteria, as outlined in the AJGA Handbook and at ajga.org.
However, unfilled spots will be awarded to those with
the highest rank, but have not yet earned an invitation.
2)
Canon Cup teams will be named entirely
according to the AJGA Rankings, eliminating all captains’
picks. On June 30, 2006, the top eight boys and top
eight girls from each side of the Mississippi River
will be invited to play in the Canon Cup. On July 10,
following the Rolex Tournament of Champions, the final
two boys’ and girls’ spots on each team
will be awarded to the highest ranked players not already
invited.
3)
Also in 2006, to determine the Rolex Junior
All-America Teams more objectively, the AJGA
Rankings will be the major factor in the selection process.
With the AJGA Rankings viewable to the public, the selection
process will be transparent and players will know where
they stand on a year-round basis. In March, the AJGA
will release more specific information concerning the
selection of these teams.
HOW
THE RANKINGS SYSTEM WORKS
In
2006, the AJGA Rankings will be used to determine
all ten players on each Canon Cup team. There will
be no captains' picks. |
Under
the AJGA system, three variables affect a player’s
rank:
1)
Players are awarded points on a per-event basis. A player’s
total points are then divided by the number of events
played to derive a points average. Players are ranked
according to this points average. A minimum denominator
of six is set, so a player who competes in fewer than
six events during a 52-week period may still be ranked,
but will not receive full credit for their performance.
2)
The rankings will be calculated on a 52-week rolling
points cycle, so only the most recent 52 weeks are included
in the rankings cycle.
3)
Players are rewarded for playing tournaments with stronger
fields. Each tournament’s point values are based
on the strength of field for that event. Strength of
field is measured by calculating the combined top-10
finishes (top-5 finishes for girls) of a given field
over the past 52 weeks in events ranked by the AJGA.
Invitational events, along with other historically strong
events such as the USGA Junior Championships, Western
Junior and Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Junior, are
locked in at the highest point level. Champions of those
events are awarded 200 points. Champions of other events
receive between 20 and 100 points.
View
the AJGA Rankings
|
