As the nation’s top junior golfers descend upon Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C., for the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship (July 13-18, 2026), the 156-player field is bursting with youthful prodigies, seasoned amateurs, and future collegiate stars. Here is a closer look at the remarkable talent teeing it up this week.
By the Numbers: Age and Demographics The field’s average age sits at 16.37, highlighting the accelerated development of today’s young players. Twelve-year-old Bella Simoes of Lake Worth, Fla., arrives as the championship’s youngest competitor, while 18-year-old Kiley Reisner from Northridge, Calif., rounds out the field as the oldest.
A testament to the global reach of the junior game, 18 different countries are represented, alongside 35 U.S. states. California leads the pack with 27 competitors, followed by Florida with 12.
Tracking the Talent: Global and JGH Rankings This year’s championship boasts 12 players ranked inside the top 100 of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Headlining the international contingent are Japan’s Anna Iwanaga (No. 16), China’s Yujie Liu (No. 20), and Korea’s Seoah Kim (No. 30).
For college coaches and fans scouting the next generation of talent, cross-referencing these global standings with a player’s Junior Golf Hub (JGH) ranking offers an incredibly comprehensive look at their developmental trajectory. Top-ranked Americans in the field, such as Amelie Zalsman (No. 39) and Anna Fang (No. 48), have built robust resumes that make their JGH profiles absolute standouts as they prepare for the next level.
The Next Step: College Commitments A massive milestone for many girls in the field is securing their collegiate future. This week, 37 players arrive in Durham having already signed their National Letters of Intent for the fall of 2026. For aspiring juniors, navigating the recruiting process can be daunting, but building a robust JGH profile has become an essential tool for players to showcase their tournament results and swing videos to prospective college programs.
Among the committed athletes looking to capture a USGA title before heading off to campus are:
- Rayee Feng (Harvard University)
- Jude Lee & Nikki Oh (Stanford University)
- Zoe Cusack (University of Virginia)
- Angela Zhang (University of Southern California)
- Athena Singh (University of Houston)
Additionally, current college players like UCLA’s Kacey Ly, Clemson’s Keya Naik, and Wyoming’s Kiley Reisner are also in the mix, bringing valuable collegiate experience to the fairways of Old Chatham.
Major Championship & USGA Pedigree The talent pool extends far beyond standard junior events. Incredibly, six players in the field already have major championship experience, having teed it up at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at The Riviera Country Club: Zoe Cusack, Amy Lee, Jie-En Lin, Anita Lumpongpoung, Sofia Rivera, and Athena Singh.
Adding to the competitive depth is Grace Carter, a star on the U.S. National Junior Team. Carter made waves as the stroke-play medalist and a semifinalist at the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior. Since then, her resume has only grown, including a runner-up finish at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. Meanwhile, U.S. National Junior Team member Amelie Zalsman brings veteran poise to the event, making her fifth career start in the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Looking Ahead From former Drive, Chip & Putt National Finalists—25 of whom are competing this week—to heavily recruited athletes on the U.S. National Development Program, the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship is a vibrant preview of the future of women’s golf. As these athletes battle for one of the most coveted trophies in the amateur game, their progress on the course—and their climbing JGH rankings—will undoubtedly be something to watch.
Photo Credit: (Logan Whitton/USGA)