Greensboro, N.C. (Feb. 25, 2026) — As we begin to settle into the new year, we’re looking forward to the 3rd annual LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Championship. Here is everything you need to know about this major championship.
What is the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Championship?
The 3rd annual LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Championship will feature 144 of the top junior girls in the nation, divided between three divisions: the Bell National, Futures National, and Discovery divisions. The Bell National division will be playing from 6,000 yards, while the Futures National division will be playing from 5,200 yards and the nine-hole Discovery division will be playing from 2,000 yards.
The event will be run from July 6-9, 2026 featuring a practice round and banquet on Monday, July 6th followed by competition days the following three days. The Bell National and Futures National divisions will have a reduction of field (cut) following the 2nd round to the low 50% and ties. The Discovery division will play a practice round Monday and 9-holes on Tuesday & Wednesday.
What’s New in 2026?
As the championship continues to grow, we are thrilled to continue elevating the tournament atmosphere as well as the special opportunities awarded for competing in the tournament. Just to name a few of the additions made in 2025: a digital live scoreboard featuring the live leaders, rounds of the day, and individual player profiles was running throughout the event between the first and eighteenth holes as well as the creation of a “Walk of Champions” featuring the past champions of the event!
Now in 2026, we are excited to continue the elevation of this special event by awarding the Bell National champion an LPGA Epson Tour Exemption! This is a unique opportunity for one of the top junior players to earn a spot to compete against professionals.
How can I qualify?
There are four ways in which players can qualify for a spot in the 3rd annual LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Championship. Girls will be identified to participate in four tiers: Tradition Qualifiers, Girls Golf Showcases, Exemptions, or Application.
The first tier revolves around top performers of Tradition events, 36-hole nationally ranked tournaments held across the country in the winter/spring 2026. Events will be administered & ranked in the PKBGT National Series and directed locally by PKBGT partners or LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site Directors. These specific events can qualify players for either the Bell National or Futures National divisions. The following are the next available traditions to register for:
- March 7-8: Sarah Schmelzel Girls Tradition @ Orange Tree Resort (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- March 7-8 : Katherine Perry Hamski Girls Tradition @ UNC-CH Finley GC (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
- March 28-29: Lizette Salas Girls Tradition @ Lakewood CC (SoCal, California)
- April 18-19: Emma Talley Girls Tradition @ Park Mammoth GC (Park City, Kentucky)
- April 25-26: Riley Smyth Girls Tradition @ Woodside CC (Aiken, South Carolina)
- April 25-26: Chicago Girls Tradition @ Crystal Woods GC (Woodstock, Illinois)
The second tier includes winners of Showcases, one-day tournaments hosted by select LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programs. These events will be administered and ranked by the PKBGT and directed by the local girl’s golf program. These events can qualify players for either the Futures National or Discovery divisions. The following are the next available showcases to register for:
- May 16: Orlando Showcase Qualifier @ Heathrow CC (Orlando, Florida)
- May 17: Detroit Showcase Qualifier @ Rackham GC (Detroit, Michigan)
- May 31: Charlotte Showcase Qualifier @ First Tee Harry Jones GC (Charlotte, North Carolina)
The third tier contains select PKBGT exemptions to identify deserving, high-performing players from the across the PKBGT, including select PKBGT Championship top finishers and top players on the PKBGT Performance Index as of May 1, 2026, for direct entry. The following are the next available championships to register for:
- February 14-16: RocketTour Players Championship (Villa Rica, Georgia)
- March 21-23: Spring Bell Invitational (Charlottesville, Virginia)
- April 4-6: Mid-Atlantic Girls Championship (Ijamsville, Maryland)
- April 18-19: PKBGT Masters (Greenville, North Carolina)
- May 24-26: PKBGT Open Championship (Salisbury, North Carolina)
The fourth and final tier involves nominations from LPGA*USGA Girls Golf site directors. Site directors can nominate a player from their program to receive an exemption into the tournament. Nominees must demonstrate financial need and must be nominated by the Site Director. Site Directors may nominate up to two (2) Girls Golf members. Players must have a suitable documented tournament history to be considered. The deadline to submit nominations is April 1, 2026.
Click here for a list of ALL active qualifiers.
The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf and Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour are excited to host the third annual championship this summer at Pine Needles! If you have any questions about the championship or the qualification process, please email golf@pkbgt.org.
About the PKBGT
Founded in 2007 by Girls Golf of America, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, a local girls’ golf tour in the Triad region of North Carolina. The tour began as a simple concept: create more effective competitive playing opportunities for girls. By utilizing innovative yardage-based divisions instead of the traditional age-based format, the tour focused on developing tournament experience at the player’s pace. The 2025-2026 season will feature over 130 tournaments in 9 states on the East Coast, and with over 1,000 members, the PKBGT is the largest girl’s only tour in the country. Learn more about the PKBGT at http://www.pkbgt.org/.
For complete coverage of the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour, follow the PKBGT on social media @PKBGirlsTour (Twitter), facebook.com/girlsgolftour (Facebook), @pkbgirlstour (Instagram), or visit our website at www.pkbgt.org