The countdown to one of junior golf’s most prestigious international showcases is officially on. The Presidents Cup and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) have announced the first 11 members of the 2026 U.S. Team, including a captain’s pick, along with the 12th and final player to round out the International Team roster.
Now in its fifth edition, the Junior Presidents Cup will tee off on September 19 on a specially designed routing across Course No. 1 and Course No. 2 at Medinah Country Club — just days before the main event, the 2026 Presidents Cup, begins on Medinah’s Course No. 3. The final U.S. Team spot will be announced on September 10.
What the Junior Presidents Cup Is All About
For those newer to the event, the Junior Presidents Cup is a two-day, match-play team competition that brings together 24 of the top junior boys golfers (19 and under) from around the world — 12 representing the United States and 12 from countries outside Europe. The format mirrors the excitement of the Presidents Cup itself, giving elite non-European junior talent a rare opportunity to compete on the international team stage.
U.S. Team Headlined by Miles Russell
Leading the U.S. Team is Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida — currently the No. 1 player in the JGH Rankings and No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR®). Russell arrives fresh off a runner-up finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and a third-place showing at the Western Amateur Championship. A two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year and Florida State commit, Russell already boasts four AJGA Invitational titles, including back-to-back wins at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. He returns to the Junior Presidents Cup after going 1-2-0 in 2024 and will also compete in this year’s Walker Cup after making the cut at the U.S. Open in June.
Joining Russell as a returning team member is Ronin Banerjee of Irvine, California, currently No. 3 in the JGH Rankings and No. 187 in WAGR®. A three-time Rolex Junior All-American with three AJGA victories, Banerjee posted seven top-10 finishes in national junior competition across 2025 and 2026. He and Russell teamed up in 2024, combining for a 1-1-1 record.
U.S. Team Captain Matt Kuchar rounded out his roster with a captain’s pick: Sohan Patel of Weston, Florida. Patel, No. 11 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, is coming off a standout summer that included co-medalist honors and a quarterfinal run at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The 2025 Rolex Junior All-American is verbally committed to Vanderbilt University.
“It’s an honor to be captain of this team and have the opportunity to make the captain’s pick,” Kuchar said. “Sohan Patel had an outstanding summer, highlighted by his strong finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur. He has proven he can compete in match play at the highest level, and I’m excited to welcome him to a group of exceptional young men as we prepare to defend The Cup at Medinah.”
The U.S. Team spans six states, with Florida leading the way with five representatives.
International Team’s Final Piece: Zhi Li of China
Rounding out the International Team is Zhi Li of China, currently No. 180 in WAGR®. Li brings six wins and an impressive 29 top-10 finishes across 33 WAGR-counting events, highlighted by victories at the CLPGQ Shanghai Series – 1 and CLPGQ Gionee Series – 1, both earned in 2026. He joins fellow countryman Qiyou Wu on a roster where China and South Korea are the only nations represented by more than one player. Notably, the entire International Team will be making their Junior Presidents Cup debut this year.
The Full Rosters
International Team — Captain C.T. Pan
- Tuan Anh Nguyen (Vietnam)
- Taisei Nagasaki (Japan)
- Qiyou Wu (China)
- Minsu Kim (South Korea)
- Cooper Moore (New Zealand)
- Jun Tian (Hong Kong)
- Settawut Kenanan (Thailand)
- Tomas Del Grosso (Argentina)
- Fernando Saravia (Guatemala)
- Emilio Velez (Colombia)
- Jeyi Son (South Korea)*
- Zhi Li (China)
U.S. Team (First 11) — Captain Matt Kuchar
- Miles Russell (Florida)
- Jaden Soong (California)
- Jessy Huebner (Florida)
- Ronin Banerjee (California)
- Giuseppe Puebla (Florida)
- Grayson Baucom (North Carolina)
- Rory Asselta (New Jersey)
- Sam Carraher (Indiana)
- Joseph Corcell (Florida)
- Grant DeLorenzo (Texas)
- Sohan Patel (Florida)*
*Denotes captain’s pick
A Look at the U.S. Squad
Miles Russell — JGH Ranking: 1. Verbally committed to Florida State.
Jaden Soong — JGH Ranking: 38. Class of 2028.
Jessy Huebner — JGH Ranking: 6. Verbally committed to the University of Florida.
Ronin Banerjee — JGH Ranking: 3. Verbally committed to the University of Tennessee.
Giuseppe Puebla — JGH Ranking: 17. Verbally committed to the University of Florida.
Grayson Baucom — JGH Ranking: 12. Class of 2028.
Rory Asselta — JGH Ranking: 2. Verbally committed to Auburn University.
Sam Carraher — JGH Ranking: 89. Verbally committed to Purdue University.
Joseph Corcell — JGH Ranking: 9. Class of 2027.
Grant DeLorenzo — JGH Ranking: 93. Verbally committed to Texas Christian University.
Sohan Patel — JGH Ranking: 11. Verbally committed to Vanderbilt University.
What’s Next
The 12th and final U.S. Team member will be announced on September 10, ahead of the Junior Presidents Cup’s fifth edition at Medinah Country Club on September 19. The event serves as a fitting curtain-raiser to the 2026 Presidents Cup, which runs September 22–27 on Medinah’s Course No. 3.
For the complete Junior Presidents Cup team standings, visit the official Presidents Cup site. For more on the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup, head to AJGA.org.
Stay tuned to Junior Golf Hub for continued coverage of the Junior Presidents Cup roster reveal and event coverage leading up to the September 19 tee-off.