News

APALACHIN, N.Y. – The 82nd NYS Boys’ & 61st NYS Girls’ 18U Junior Amateur Golf Championships are set to begin at the Links at Hiawatha Landing July 2-3. 

Unlike in past years, the NYSGA will split off into two Junior Amateur championships in 2024 - one for 18 & under boys and girls and another for players 14 & under. This year’s 14U championships will be conducted separately at Green Lakes State Park, August 15-16. 

Related: Championship Central / Live Scoring / Pairings / Program / Course Photos / 2023 Recap / Past Winners

The field will consist of 151 junior golfers, with 106 players teeing it up in the Boys’ 18U, and 45 in the Girls’ 18U. 

Both categories will play 18 holes of individual stroke play on Tuesday, after which a cut will be applied to the field. The remaining players - Low 21 & Ties in the Girls’ 18U and Low 40 & Ties in the Boys’ - will progress to Rounds 2 & 3 on Wednesday. The players with the low score in their field after 54 holes will be crowned champions.

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Dates: July 2-3, 2024

Host Site: Links at Hiawatha Landing

2023 Champions:

Kellen Dean, Saratoga Springs, NY,
McGregor Links GC (Boys’ 18U)

Jordan Levitt, Bedford, NY,
Met eClub - NYC (Girls’ 18U)

Format: 54 holes*, individual stroke play
*There is a cut after 18 holes in each division to:
- Girls' 18U - Low 24 & Ties
- Boys' 18U - Low 40 & Ties

Age Groups: In addition to competing in the overall Championship, players will also compete within the following age divisions: 15, 16, 17, 18.

Ties: The player with the lowest score after regulation will be the champion. In the event of a tie for either Championship, a sudden-death playoff will be held immediately following play. If there is a tie for the winner in the Age Groups, the tie will be broken using the USGA's method of matching scorecards.

Eligibility: Open to male and female amateur golfers that are either a resident of New York State or belong to an NYSGA member club or an NYSGA eClub (NYS residency required of eClub members). Players must be 18 years old or younger as of July 3, 2024 and have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index (Boys’ 18U - 8.4 max // Girls’ 18U - 16.2 max). 

2024 U.S. Junior & Girls' Junior Amateur Exemptions
The 2024 Champions will earn an exemption into the following 2024 USGA Championships (must remain age eligible):

• Boys' 18U: 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, played July 22-27 at Oakland Hills CC in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
• Girls' 18U: 2024 U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur Championship, played July 15-20 at El Caballero CC in Tarzana, California.

Top-5 Exempt into 101st NYS Men's Amateur
The top-5 players in the 2024 NYS Boys' 18U Junior Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2024 NYS Men's Amateur Championship, played at Wanakah Country Club on July 9-11.

PAR & YARDAGE

Boys' 18U: 7,050y, Par 72

Girls' 18U: 5,744, Par 72

82nd New York State Boys’ 18U Amateur Championship

HOLE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
YARDAGE	405	416	176	425	378	216	545	431	490
PAR	4	4	3	4	4	3	5	4	5

 

HOLE	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
YARDAGE	422	422	577	173	346	442	465	203	518
PAR	4	4	5	3	4	4	4	3	5

 

61st New York State Girls’ 18U Amateur Championship

HOLE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
YARDAGE	371	375	149	368	340	186	485	370	460
PAR	4	4	3	4	4	3	5	4	5

 

HOLE	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
YARDAGE	356	377	475	147	296	356	405	170	465
PAR	4	4	5	3	4	4	4	3	5

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Monday, July 1 // Practice Rounds

Tuesday, July 2 // Round 1 (18 holes)

Wednesday, July // Rounds 2 & 3 (36 holes) 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The 82nd NYS Boys’s Junior Amateur Field contains three NYSGA champions: 

Kellen Dean, 18, of McGregor Links CC, is the reigning 18U champion, winning by two strokes at the Lake Placid Club in 2023. In May, he was the medalist at the U.S. Open First Stage qualfier at Albany CC, and advanced into the NYS Open out of the NENY PGA qualifier at Eagle Crest. He also captured the inaugural Capital Region Golf Association Amateur Championship at McGregor Links CC. He will be competing in the PGA Junior Championship for a second year. Dean is committed to play golf at Xavier University next fall. 

Connor Jackson, 15, of East Aurora CC, was the 2023 14U champion at the Lake Placid Club, going 74-71 (+3) to win by three strokes. Jackson also claimed the BDGA Sub-Junior Stroke Play Championship at Tri-County Country and took home the BDGA’s Sub-Junior Player of the Year Honors. 

Jacob Olearcyzk, 16, of NYSGA eClub - Central NY, is a two-time 14U division winner (‘21, ‘22). Olearcyzk finished in fifth in the Boys 14-15 division at the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. He claimed four first place titles in the Central New York PGA Junior Tour last season.  

The 61st NYS Girl’s Junior Amateur Field contains four NYSGA champions: 

Jordan Levitt, 17, of MGA eClub - NYC, will look to defend the Girls’ 18U title she claimed last year at the Lake Placid Club. A final round 65 (-6) punctuated the three shot victory for the Westchester County player. Levitt is coming off a victory at the Metropolitan PGA Junior, which also qualified her for the 2024 PGA Junior Girls' Championship at Congressional. She also won the Orlando Junior Open over the winter, and the Florida Junior Tour Ocala Open in fall 2023. She recently announced her commitment to play college golf for Notre Dame.

Sophia Li, 17, of MGA eClub - NYC, won the 2022 Junior Girl’s Amateur at Soaring Eagles and finished runner up to Levitt at Lake Placid in 2023. Li qualified for the 2022 US Junior Girls Amateur and won the girl’s 10-12 division of the Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National in 2019. She qualified for the 2024 PGA Junior Girls' Championship at Congressional out of the Metropolitan PGA section. Last year, she finished in the top 10 at the national event.

Lily Zhang, 15, of Park Country Club, won the 2023 NYS Women’s Amateur Championship at Corning Country Club. The six stroke victory granted Zhang, then 14, the title of the second youngest women’s amateur champion in NYS history. She finished in the top 10 at the 2023 NYS Girls' Junior. Zhang has won the last eight WNY PGA Junior Tour events she has played in, dating back to 2021. 

Alexandra Phung, 13, of the Metropolitan PGA Junior Golf Club, captured last year’s 14U Amateur Championship at the Lake Placid Club. The one-under performance brought Phung twenty clear of her 14U competition. She is coming off a playoff victory at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Meadowbrook Country Club in Wisconsin. Phung took home the top spot in last year’s 10-11 division in the Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National in 2023. 

Other Players to Watch in the Boys’ 18U Field

Tyler Berkman, 17, of Potsdam Town & Country Club, qualified for the 2023 U.S. Junior at Teugega during a 3-for-1 playoff. After missing match play, he flew back to New York just in time to compete in the 2023 NYS Boys' 18U Junior Amateur in Lake Placid, where he finished as a runner-up.

Dante Bertoni, 18, of En-Joie Golf Club, was the 2023 NYSPHSAA Boys’ Champion, with a playoff victory at Mark Twain GC. Bertoni finished in solo eight in last year’s 18U Junior Amateur Championship at three over par. His opening round 67 (-4) was the 18U field’s second lowest of the tournament, only to eventual champion Kellen Dean’s second round of 66 (-5). 

Matt Carpentier, 18, of Midvale Country Club, is coming off a Class A title at the Section V Individual Championships with a four-under performance. The Pittsford Mendon HS product is committed to play golf at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore next fall. 

Leo Chu, 17, of Hudson Hills Golf Course, won the 2023 Section 1 Boys Golf Championship as a sophomore, while representing Scarsdale HS. Chu fired an even par 213 (73-72-68) at last year’s NYS Boys' 18U Junior Golf Championship to finish fifth. He also made the cut at the 100th NYS Men's Am at Wykagyl last season, finishing T33.

Owen Corby, 18, of Monroe Golf Club, is coming off a medalist performance at the Gold Mountain US Junior Amateur Qualifier. He will tee it up at Oakland Hills CC in Michigan for the US Junior Amateur later this season. Corby finished second in season points (750) in the Rochester District Golf Association in 2023. The freshman at LeMoyne College was awarded the Northeast Conference (NEC) golfer of the week award earlier this spring. 

Matthew DiFioire, 17, of Youth on Course - MGA, was paired up with Joseph Dolezal at the recent US Amateur Four-Ball Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The Metropolitan area pair were the only NYS players to advance past the stroke play cut to the Matchplay. DiFiore tied for twelfth in last year’s 18U Junior Amateur Championship. 

Brayden Dock, 17, of Glen Falls Country Club, is coming off a second place finish at the Northeastern NY PGA Junior Championship at Western Turnpike Golf Club. The Colgate University commit opened with a 70 (-1) in last year’s tournament and ended up T6 at two over par. 

Jeff Fumarola, 14, of Ballston Spa Country Club, earned a spot in the Section 2 High School State Championship as an eighth grader. Fumarola won last year’s Northeastern NY Junior Tour Championship in the Boys’ 8-12 division. He finished as the runner-up in last year’s 14U Junior Amateur Championship at the Lake Placid Club. 

John Hiller, 18, of Westchester Country Club, won the Three Little Birds Memorial AJGA Open last year by nine strokes. He won the 2022 Metropolitan Golf Association’s Junior Amateur at St George’s Golf & Country as a 16-year-old. Hiller is committed to play at Duke University in the fall. 

Owen Jessop, 17, of Westhampton Country Club, finished T6 at the 2023 NYS Boys' 18U Junior in Lake Placid. Earlier this season, he qualified for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur out of the Southhampton GC qualifier.

Connor Kiel, 18, of Midvale Country Club, qualified for the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship out of the Teugega CC qualifier last summer. He finished top 5 at the 2022 NYS Boys' 18U Junior, and won the Rochester District Junior title in 2022.

Lucas Rizo-Patron, 17, of Pelham Country Club, qualified for the 2022 US Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes. He has won three Metropolitan PGA Future Series events, each at Bethpage Red. Rizo-Patron is no stranger to state championships, opening the 2022 NYS Men’s Amateur at Onondaga Golf and Country Club with a 71-69 (-2) as a 15-year-old. 

Jackson Saroney, 17, of Drumlins Golf Club, is coming off a ten stroke victory at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s Spring College Prep Series at the University Club of Kentucky. Earlier this month, Saroney earned a spot into final stage qualifying for the US Amateur Championship with an even-par 70 at the first stage qualifier at Teugega CC. Saroney, with his father Erik, shot a tournament record 59 (-11) to win the 2023 Syracuse District Golf Association Father & Child. Saroney finished T12 in last season’s NYS Boys' 18U Amateur, and in the top 30 at the 100th NYS Amateur.  

Jack Tebeau, 18, of Crag Burn Golf Club, recently claimed the NYS Federation Golf Championship at Bethpage Black with a 71. He is also a two-time winner of the BDGA Sub-Junior Stroke Play and won the Match Play in 2021. In last year's NYS Boys' 18U, he finished T21.

YiWen “Kevin” Wang, 17, of MET PGA Junior Golf Club, is a two-time All-State selection out of Eastchester High School. He finished in third place at the Connecticut Junior Open at Quarry Ridge Golf Club last May. Wang was one of four players at least year’s 18U Junior Amateur Championship to finish in red numbers, concluding play in solo fourth. 

Bryan Zhao, 18, of Youth on Course - MGA, came in first at the AJGA Preview in May at Bethpage Black. In the 2024 NYSPHSAA Boys' Golf Championships at Mark Twain GC, he finished in sixth. During last year's NYS Boys' 18U he finished in the top 30.

Other Players to Watch in the Girls’ 18U Field

Delaney Abel, 13, of Corning CC, was the youngest player to compete in the 2023 Women’s Amateur Championship, where she made the cut and finished in 24th. Abel won the Section IV title as a 7th grader in 2023 and was recognized as girls’ co-golfer of the year in the Southern Tier Report All-Star Team. 

Madison Chen, 15, of North Shore Country Club, finished as the runner-up at the Junior Amateur Championship in 2022 at Soaring Eagles. An opening 71 (E) saw her tied with eventual champion Sophia Li heading into the final round of play. Chen is coming off a Metropolitan PGA Junior Tour victory at Eisenhower White in April, the eighth of her career. 

Nina Choe, 15, of Pelham Country Club, at one point led last year’s Girls' Junior thanks to a second-round 68 (-4). She ended up finishing in fourth place with a three over tournament. Choe, a sophomore, finished T6 at the NYSPHSAA Girls’ Golf Championships at the Edison Club. She also finished in the top 10 in her freshman season in 2023.  

Hayden Knapp, 14, of Glen Falls Country Club, recently finished T5 in the 12-13 age group at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National. As an eighth grader playing for South Glens Falls, she finished T4 at the NYSPHSAA Girls’ Golf Championship. Knapp finished T13 in last year’s Women’s Amateur Championship at Corning Country Club. 

Amelie Phung, 16, of Youth on Course - MGA, won the Florida Junior Tour MLK Major at Seminole Legacy Golf Club earlier this year by six strokes. The 2025 grad also has an AJGA event under her belt, winning the Huntsville Junior (AL) in May 2022. Phung finished solo third in last year’s Girls' Junior with an even par tournament. 

Isabella Salerno, 17, of Westchester Country Club, finished T-7 in the 2023 NYS Women’s Amateur at Corning and T14 at the 2023 NYS Girls’ Junior.

Dannah Smith, 18, of Orchard Creek Golf Club, finished third in the 2024 NYSPHSAA Girls' Golf Championships at the Edison Club. She won the 2024 Schenectady Classic at Schenectady Municipal GC. Earlier this year, she announced her signing to Monmouth University to play golf.

Samantha Von Rohr, 17, of Schuyler Meadows Club, won the Onondaga Junior Invitational in 2023 with 7-over 78. She finished in the top 10 during the 2023 NYS Women’s Amateur at Corning Country Club, and top 10 at the 2023 NYS Girls’ Junior. She qualified for this year's PGA Junior Girls' Championship at Congressional out of the NENY PGA section.

Kamryn Yerman, 16, of Cedar Lake Club, finished T6 at the 2024 NYSPHSAA Girls' Golf Championships at The Edison Club. She finished T19 in last year's NYS Girls' 18U.

PAST NYSGA CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED BY THE LINKS AT HIAWATHA

1996 NYS Men's Amateur Championship, won by Michael Valicenti of Elmira

THE LINKS AT HIAWATHA LANDING