Sponsor’s exemption a possibility for James

Hamden Hall senior has the resume to be considered for field

Ben James has won junior golf tournaments in the state, across the region and in different parts of the country.

He has qualified to represent the United States on national junior teams. He has played in the U.S. Junior. And James will soon be playing collegiate golf in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

James is hoping all of that and more will merit serious consideration for a spot in next month's Travelers Championship. There is a chance it could happen, which would be a rarity for a high school golfer.

“No doubt Ben is an incredible player and his reputation and playing record to this point speaks for itself,” Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube said. “He is definitely somebody we have been thinking about.”

James certainly has the resume to be considered.

A senior at Hamden Hall Country Day, James is ranked No. 1 in the junior golf rankings by Junior Golf Scoreboard and No. 2 by the American Junior Golf Association based on his achievements. Among them: he qualified for both the U.S. Junior Presidents Cup team in 2019 and U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team in 2021.

James is one of four junior golfers in the nation to be receiving a 2022 Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award on Wednesday at the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic, a PGA Tour stop at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. This award is not just for golf achievement, but also for character, something Nelson was renowned for during his life, long after his legendary career ended.

James, who advanced to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open on Monday at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, will graduate from Hamden Hall and continue his golf career at the University of Virginia, the Cavaliers will be heading to New Haven for the NCAA Division I Regional Championship to be held at Yale Golf Course May 16-18. The Cavaliers are the No. 7 seed out of 13 teams.

Sponsor's exemptions are precious commodities for PGA Tour events. Golfers nationwide, and beyond, apply for different rea

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Ben James of Milford could be considered for a sponsor’s exemption in the Travelers Championship.