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CORTLAND, N.Y. – The 69th Boys’ & 4th Girls’ 14U Junior Amateur Championships will tee off from Cortland Country Club from July 30-31.

40 of the state’s brightest young players, 30 boys and 10 girls, will compete for 36 holes in stroke-play format across two rounds. This is the first time that the tournament will be held at Cortland CC. 

This year’s championship marks the second time the 14U championships have split off from the 18U, which were played earlier this season at Cavalry Club in Manlius. The Boys 14U, formerly called the Boys' Sub-Junior, had previously been played concurrently with the Boys' 18U since the inaugural boys' tournament was held in 1957 at Wanakah CC.

Related: Pairings / Scoring / 2025 Recap / Past Boys’ Winners / Past Girls’ Winners

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Dates: July 30-31, 2026

Host Site: Cortland Country Club, Cortland, N.Y.

Defending Champions:

After a first round score of 68, Francisco Cupp just held on to his lead on the final day. He shot 75 to win the tournament at one-under by one stroke. Cupp, of Saratoga Golf & Polo Club, was the only player in the Boys’ field to finish the tournament under par. His seven birdies across the championship helped him lift his first ever NYS title. 

Natalie Wasik defended her crown and won her second consecutive Girls’ 14U Junior Am. Wasik, of Lockport Town & Country Club, was the only player in either field to post two scores under par. She entered the final round trailing by a stroke but made up the distance with four birdies on the day. Her tournament score of four-under was good for a two-shot victory.

Divisions:

69th Boys’ 14U Junior Amateur Championship

4th Girls’ 14U Junior Amateur Championship

Format: 36 holes of individual stroke play, played over two days. No cut.

Eligibility: Play is open to male and female amateur golfers who are 14 years old or younger as of July 30, 2026*, have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index from a NYSGA Member Club, and are residents of New York State or are active NYSGA members.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 - PRACTICE ROUNDS

11:00am. Practice Facilities Open

11:00-3:00pm. Player Registration

12:00-1:50pm. Practice round tee times

THURSDAY, JULY 30 - ROUND 1

7:30am. Practice facilities open

8:30-11:00am. Round 1 from tee #1

12:00pm. Course opens to member play

12:30-3:30pm. Player Lunch

FRIDAY, JULY 31 - ROUND 2

7:30am. Practice facilities open

8:30-11:00am. Round 2 from tee #1

12:00pm. Course opens to member play

12:30-3:30pm. Player Lunch

4:30pm. Award Ceremony

THE FIELD

Players to Watch in the Boys' 14U Field

Brayden Thomas, 14, of Drumlins Country Club, finished third in last year’s tournament and eighth the year prior, the highest of any returning player. Earlier this month, Thomas finished in T14 in the Boys’ 18U Junior Am. Last summer, he qualified for the National Junior PGA Championship. Thomas was also named 2025 SDGA Sub-Junior Player of the Year. He is a member of Team New York.

Forbes Zhou, 14, of Youth on Course - MGA, recently was the Met PGA Junior Tour Future Series champion with a round of four-under at Bethpage Blue. Zhou has earned three wins on the MET PGA this year. He also qualified for the 1898 Foundation Junior All-Star. Zhou did not compete in last year’s 14U State Am. 

Justin Jang, 13, of Paramount Country Club, won three events last year in the NJ PGA Jr. Tour. He was subsequently named 2025 NJ PGA Jr. Tour Player of the Year in the 11-12 division. Jang has played in 12 NJ PGA Jr. Tour events and has never finished below T5 while winning four times. He did not compete in last year’s championship. 

Dylan Suchak, 14, of Transit Valley Country Club, finished fourth in last summer’s tournament, the second highest of the returning players. Last year, Suchak closed his tournament with four consecutive birdies. His final round of 71 was one of only four rounds under par in the boys’ field. Earlier this year, Suchak finished T11 at the CHSAA State Championship at two-over. He also finished T23 at the Boys’ 18U State Am. 

Evan Seo, 13, of MGA eClub - New York City, is the MET PGA’s Future Series Champion. Seo also competed in the AJGA All-Star tournament earlier this year. He is currently ranked 3,096th by the Rolex AJGA rankings. Seo did not compete in last year’s championship.

Players to Watch in the Girls' 14U Field

Taerin Lee, 13, Youth on Course - MGA, won the 28th MGA Women’s Public Links Championship earlier this summer defeating a Team New York, Yasmina Oralkhan, member in a playoff. She finished third at the New York State High School Federation Golf Championships at Bethpage Red. Lee is ranked 1,355th by the Rolex AJGA Rankings. She finished 11th at the Girls’ 18U Junior Am and did not compete in the most recent 14U Junior Am. 

Reagan Paolini, 14, of Irondequoit CC, is the reigning RDGA Girls Junior Player of the Year. Paolini won the Monroe County Tournament of Champions last year. She was runner up at the Section V Girls High School Championship in 2025. Paolini finished T22 earlier this month at the Girls’ 18U Junior Am, 27th at the Women’s Am, and in seventh at last year’s 14U. Her twin sister, Reese, is also in the field. 

Nina Dahl, 14, of Youth On Course - MGA, was one of the youngest competitors at the 18U State Am where she finished 13th. Dahl won the Ballyowen Junior Open last summer in the Girls’ 14-18 division. She was named player of the year in her division by the MET PGA in 2022. Dahl did not compete in last year’s championship.

Youngest in the Field

Boys

Girls

12 – Elise Brady

Team New York Members in the Field

Brayden Thomas

PAST NYS CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT CORTLAND CC

ABOUT THE VENUE

Founded in 1913, Cortland Country Club is situated amongst the picturesque hills of Central New York. The club was designed by Willard Wilkinson and has hosted five NYS Championships. The Wickwire family, a big name in Cortland, founded the course. That same family started the Wickwire Brothers company which became one of the largest wire cloth producers in the world.