News

After a second-place finish last year, sophomore Hayden Knapp of South Glens Falls won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) 2026 Girls Golf State Championship at Wild Wood Country Club in Rush on Monday.

In the first round, Knapp was two-over through 15 holes but closed out strongly with birdies on the par 4 16th and par 5 18th holes for a round of even-par. She finished day one just a stroke off the lead, trailing fellow Team New York member Rachel O’Rourke (Rome Free Academy), who brushed off a triple-bogey on 4. 

Related: Results / Past Champions / NYSPHSAA Girls Golf

Knapp started the second round strong with three birdies on the front nine as she was level with O’Rourke after 27 holes. They remained tied through the 15th hole, but, like the previous day, Knapp found a spark, birdieing the 16th hole. With an O’Rourke bogey, Knapp found herself two strokes ahead with two holes to play. Two pars capped the tournament as she avenged her 2025 second-place finish by winning the 2026 state championship. 

Nina Choe, also a Team New York golfer, of The Ursuline School, last year’s champion, finished in third place at two-over. She shot 78 on the first day, but her second round score of 68 was the lowest of the tournament. She finished her final nine holes in 31 shots, aided by an eagle on the par-4 10th hole. 

Another Team New York athlete, Delaney Abel, a sophomore at Corning-Painted Post, also finished at two-over. Her final round of 70 was one of only five scores in red numbers for the tournament. She finished last year's tournament in solo third. Claire Brady of Orchard Park took home fifth place. She was six-over after the first 11 holes but went two-under the rest of the way to end the event at four-over.

In the team event, Great Neck South High School won its first state championship. Caylin Wong led the way on the final day, shooting one-under, helping turn a five-stroke deficit into a 13-stroke triumph.