Jacob Bridgeman of the United States celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after his win during the final round of The Genesis Invitational 2026 at Riviera Country Club on February 22, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California.
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Jacob Bridgeman won the Genesis Invitational to conclude the PGA Tour’s West Coast swing recently, and his spoils of victory included a $4 million winner’s purse, 700 FedEx Cup points that boosted him temporarily to No. 1 in the season-long standings and 69.7 world ranking points that vaulted him into the top 20.
The South Carolina Junior Golf Association earned a place in the spotlight, too.
One of the world’s best golfers became the organization’s newest poster boy, bringing the SCJGA free media attention and another selling point for participation.
Bridgeman, who grew up in Inman, starred at Clemson and lives in Greenville, built the foundation for his golf game in South Carolina junior program and, Biff Lathrop said, “played in every event we have and his win shows the opportunities.”
Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Association, will never forget “the shoutout (CBS announcer) Jim Nantz gave to the SCJGA. People around the world heard that.”
That’s an endorsement that can’t be bought for any price.
Indeed, junior golf has flourished since Happ Lathrop, long-time SCGA executive and Biff’s dad, brought emphasis the state’s junior program in the early 1990s. He secured Paul Rouilliard to put the plan in motion and the rest is history. Justin Fleming oversees the operation now.
A national publication once labeled the SCJGA the nation’s best junior program, and it’s better than ever now.
Alumni from the state program have won more than 50 PGA and LPGA Tour tournaments. Dustin Johnson is the biggest name with 24 titles, including two majors. Bill Haas, Lucas Glover, Jonathan Byrd, Kevin Kisner, D.J. Trahan and Austin Ernst all claimed multiple championships.
“Jacob is an example of what can happen,” Lathrop said. “We want to provide the opportunity for young people to discover the game and develop their skills. Most won’t do what Jacob did, but we hope they find that golf really is a game for a lifetime.”
During his time with the SCJGA (2013-18), Bridgeman won eight tournaments, recorded six more top three finishes and placed in the top 10 in more than 25 times.
He’s obviously the exception. The challenge to advance gets more difficult with each step up the competitive ladder.
“More and more juniors in our programs are really good,” Lathrop said. “Maybe what Jacob is doing gives them more incentive. But it’s a tough game, and sometimes a player has to get lucky. The timing has to be right.”
In addition to Bridgeman, another SCJGA alumnus — Andrew Novak (Mount Pleasant/Wofford) — is making his mark. He joined with Ben Griffin to win the Tour’s New Orleans team event last year and currently ranks 47th in the world.
“Having those two plus Lucas (Glover, No. 82 in the world) who came through our program ranked among the best in the world is pretty special,” Lathrop said. “Plus, we have others like Carson Young and Bryson Nimmer who are close.”
Those players make the headlines, but, Lathrop said, “Every one in the program is important.”
Chip shots. USC’s women bounced back from a last-place finish to win their next start, the Shootout at Wachesaw. The Gamecocks’ Vairana Heck captured the individual title. … The team of Jordan Sease (Lexington) and Nick Eberhardt (Lake Wylie) shot a final-round of 15-under-par 57 to roll to a four-stroke victory in the SCGA’s Partners Championship at the Spur at Northwoods and Spring Valley CC. The pair posted a 26-under 118 for the two rounds. … South Carolina’s men placed seventh and Clemson finished eighth in a strong field in the Hayt at Sawgrass CC in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Freshman Talan Harrison led the Gamecocks, sharing ninth individually, and the performance earned him SEC freshman of the week honors. Oscar Bredkjaer also tied for ninth in pacing the Tigers. … Emily Rapp and Victoria Tsurutis outdueled defending champions Lea Venable and Chandler Case to capture the WSCGA’s Team Championship at the Legends at Parris Island GC. … Sydney Roberts and Aitana Tuesta shared 13th in leading Clemson’s women to a fifth-place finish in the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. … Former Clemson star Doc Redman, the 2017 U.S. Amateur champion, won the Korn Ferry Tour’s Astara Chile Classic in La Reina, Chile. … Chase Davies (Inman) won the boys’ division in a playoff and Callie Lawton (York) led the girls’ competition the SCJGA’s Caddie Classic at the WildeWood Club.
