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Aug 10, 2026

PNGA Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateurs being held at Vandal Golf Course

Moscow, Idaho. – The 71st Pacific Northwest Junior Boys’ Amateur and 70th Junior Girls’ Amateur championships are being held concurrently this week, August 10-14, at Vandal Golf Course in Moscow, Idaho. 

Championship Links: 

Junior Boys’: 

Junior Girls’: 

Both championships will consist of 36 holes of stroke play qualifying (August 10-11) to determine seeding for the match play portion of the championships. For the Boys’ championship, 32 players will advance to match play; for the Girls’, 16 players will advance. 

All matches will be contested over 18 holes in a single-elimination format, except for the two final matches, which will both be played over 36 holes on Friday, August 14. 

This will mark the third time Vandal Golf Course – home of the University of Idaho – has hosted the Boys’ championship (2001, 2009) and the first time it will have hosted the Girls’ event. The course, formerly known as the University of Idaho Golf Course, has been open since 1936 and has a long history of hosting several state and regional championships, such as the 2019 Idaho Junior Amateur. Designed by Francis L. James, Vandal GC is situated in the rolling hills of the Palouse region of western Idaho, providing its challengers with scenic views as they navigate the layout of roughly 6,700 yards.

Players to watch for this year in the Junior Boys’: 

  • Andy Metzler (Boise, Idaho) – Runner-up in 2025 PNGA Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship. 
  • Taighan Chea (Bothell, Wash.) – Named 2025 Washington Junior Boys’ Player of the Year. Placed third in Washington State Junior Amateur and 13th in Washington Men’s Amateur. 
  • Conner Holden (Canby, Ore.) – Won 2026 Callaway FCG World Championship, boys 15–18. Won 2026 FCG Callaway West Coast Championship, college prep. 
  • Mateo Gramstad (Portland, Ore.) – Won 2026 Oregon Junior Stroke Play.

The rich history of the PNGA Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship includes past champions such as World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples, Korn Ferry Tour players Alex Prugh and Andrew Yun, and John Bodenhamer, the former CEO and executive director of the PNGA, who is now the chief championships officer at the USGA.  

Players to watch for this year in the Junior Girls’: 

  • Madeleine Conser (Portland, Ore.) – Won 2025 PNGA Junior Girls’ Amateur. Ranked No. 201 in Rolex AJGA Ranking. In 2026, has won Girls Junior Americas Cup, Oregon Women’s Amateur, Bob Norquist Oregon Junior Amateur, AJGA Junior at Geneva. 
  • Niuniu Zhao (Woodinville, Wash.) — Won 2026 Washington State Junior Amateur, 2025 WJGA State Championship. Four total WAGR wins. No. 60 in Rolex AJGA Ranking. 
  • Cienna Lee (Lacey, Wash.) – Won 2025, 2026 Washington Champion of Champions. Placed third in 2026 Washington State Junior Amateur. 
  • Yettie Bin (Taichung, Taiwan) – T2, 2026 AJGA Junior Open at The Bridges. T3,  AJGA Renewal by Andersen Junior Open hosted by D.A. Points. 
  • Amanda Peng (Bellevue, Wash.) – Won 2026 WJGA Cup. Placed third in 2026 Washington Women’s Amateur. Qualified for 2026 U.S. Girls Junior Championship.

The storied history of the PNGA Junior Girls’ Amateur includes past champions such as Jo Ann Washam, Peggy Conley, Joan Edwards-Powell, Mary Budke, and JoAnne Gunderson Carner, all of whom were later inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame after distinguished amateur and professional careers. Other past champions include LPGA Tour players Paige Mackenzie and Jimin Kang. 

To be eligible for the PNGA Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championships, contestants must not have reached their 19th birthday by midnight on August 14, 2026, and must have a Handicap Index or Factor not exceeding 8.4 for boys or 12.4 for girls. They must also be members in good standing of a PNGA Member Association (Alaska Golf Association, BC Golf, IGA, MSGA, OGA, WA Golf) or have received a Presidential Invitation. 

The PNGA Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur championships are two of 11 major, regional amateur championships for men, women, juniors and senior conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.