Savannah's Bear Dollander, a sophomore at Benedictine Military School, has been selected for Team Georgia in the recently created U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), a new initiative launched by the United States Golf Association.
Georgia is one of seven states participating in the initial phase of the state team pilot program in 2024-2025, and Dollander is one of 12 boys and 12 girls selected based on performance in designated events in 2024.
In 2024, Dollander, 17, won the Georgia PGA Junior Tour Haskins Junior Invitational and finished runner up in the Georgia Junior Championship, the GHSA Class AAAA state championship, the Georgia PGA Junior Tour Georgia Southern Junior Classic and the American Junior Golf Association's Vaughn Taylor Championship presented by James Hardie.
Dollander finished third in the points standings with 975 points behind only leader Mason Howell from Thomasville, Ga., and Hamilton Coleman from Augusta, Ga.
The USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. Eligible players must earn their way to Team Georgia each year, and once selected, athletes are part of the USNDP for the following calendar year and will receive various benefits and recognition for being part of Team Georgia.
Go to USNDP Team Georgia to learn more about Team Georgia and the US National Development Program.
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