2023 Rankings Jumpers
12/3/23 CGC Staff
2023 brought some big moves into the upper echelon of the rankings from golfers in the classes of 2024 and 2025. We're featuring some of the biggest movers here:
Andrew Hinson, 2025: Alabama
Current class rankings: JGS: 15, Rolex: 12
Hinson began the 2023 season outside the top 50 in his class in the JGS rankings, and began his ascent up the standings with a 10th place finish at the Southern Junior Championship. He followed that with a 4th place showing at the Future Masters and finished a strong 3-week stretch with his first AJGA win at the Huntsville Junior. Hinson continued his solid play through mid-August, placing 5th at the Bubba Conlee, 2nd at the Alabama Junior Championship, and 2nd at the AJGA Hilton Head Junior. He capped off his summer with an 8th place finish at the AJGA Jack Burke Invitational, and will continue to challenge himself in Invitationals in 2024. Hinson committed to the University of Alabama at the end of September.
Charlie Wylie, 2024: TCU
Current class rankings: JGS: 7, Rolex: 7
Texas native Wylie began the 2023 season around 60th in his class in the JHS rankings, and made a quick ascension into the top-10 of the 2024 class this year. 'I attribute my success to hard work and my trust in God,' he said. Wylie began the spring of 2023 with top-10 finishes at the AJGA Spot X Hotel Junior Championship and the Southern Junior, and added a 3rd place finish at the Byron Nelson Junior Championship. Late season 3rd place finishes at the AJGA Jack Burke Junior Invitational and the AJGA Ping Invitational solidified his rise in the rankings, as he made a late commitment to TCU. On his recent commitment, Wylie said 'I really look up to coach Alcorn and the guys at the team. I believe they have what it takes to be special and I look forward to being there.'
Brady Smith, 2024: Louisville
Current class rankings: JGS: 12, Rolex: 21
Smith began the year hovering around the top-50 in the class of 2024, but 2023 brought a steady ascension in the rankings. His rise began with a 2nd place finish at the AJGA Justin Thomas Junior Championship, and followed it up with 4th at the Dye Junior Invitational and 3rd and the Kentucky Junior PGA Championship. After a solid 18th at the Western Junior, he was runner-up at the Kentucky Junior Amateur and finished a respectable 14th at the Junior PGA Championship. Smith attributes his improvement to avoidance of three-putts in tournaments. 'I hit it practically the same and made more within 10 feet, simple as that.' He enjoys the ability to play in Invitationals, saying 'The Invitationals have the best fields. You are competing with guys you've seen all over the leaderboards, so that is fun to compete with them and test yourself.'
Billy Davis, 2024: Auburn
Current class rankings: JGS: 5, Rolex: 2
Davis was a sought after recruit in 2022, ranked in the mid-20s in the class of 2024, which led him to his commitment with Auburn University. Since December, 2002, he inked the following top-3 finishes on his resume: 2nd at the Jones Cup Junior Invitational, a win at the AJGA Mayakoba Invitational, 3rd at the Toyota Junior World Cup, semi-finalist at the US Junior Amateur, and 2nd at the Junior PGA Championship. Davis represented the US at the Junior Ryder Cup in 2023 and should be a strong contributor to Auburn lineups. He is the #1 pick in our 2024 individual rankings due to his success in 2023.
