Top-seeded players maintain momentum at PNGA Junior Boys’, Girls’ Amateurs
Moscow, Idaho – The quarterfinalist matches in both the PNGA Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateurs are set. The Boys’ championship had its rounds of 32 and 16 today, and the Girls’ championship had just its round of 16. Both championships are being held concurrently this week, August 10-14, at Vandal Golf Course in Moscow, Idaho.
Championship Links:
Junior Boys’:
Junior Girls’:
In the boys’ Round of 32, many of the top seeds from the week’s stroke play portion advanced. Top seed Christian Harlow (Vancouver, Wash.) defeated Jiatong (Justin) Li with by a 3 & 2 margin, earning him a round with Alex Yang in the Round of 16.
Maintaining a consistently strong playing form, Harlow was 3-up over Yang by the time they made the turn and eventually won the match 4 & 3.
Jack Brigham (Spokane, Wash.) won his Round of 32 match in 20 holes over Charlie Hilvers (Boise). Brigham was as far back as 3-down following the 11th hole, but rallied back with wins on 13, 14, 17 and 18 to tie the match and send it to extra holes. He defeated Hilvers with a birdie on the par-4 third hole.
Brigham then met Ethan Yang in the Round of 16 and never trailed. Brigham won the opening two holes, went out 2-up, and took four of the first five holes on the back side to claim a 6 & 4 win over Yang.
Justin Krasselt (Spokane) was also one of the more efficient boys’ players, claiming his Round of 32 match 7 & 5 over Owen Vestergaard. In the Round of 16, Krasselt found himself tied with Hudson O’Connell through 10 holes, but won each of holes 11-14 to take what would ultimately be a 3 & 2 win.
In the Junior Girls’ championship, each of the top eight seeds won their matches, though of varying margins. Qualifier Medalist Niuniu Zhao (Woodinville, Wash.) won three back-to-back pairs of holes in her match against Emily Stillert, ultimately recording a 6 & 5 victory.
No. 2 seed Amanda Peng (Bellevue, Wash.) gradually made her way to a 4 & 2 victory in her match with Evangeline Fulton. Peng won holes 1, 4 and 8 to make the turn 3-up. Fulton won the 12th to inch closer, but a par from Peng on the par-4 16th sealed her spot into the quarterfinals.
The longest match of the Girls’ championship was that of Riley Wilfong (Cle Elum) and Poppy Leigh (Kirkland). Wilfong went 2-up through the opening two holes, but neither player had a lead greater than 1-up after that. Both players went out in 39, and Wilfong eventually regained a 1-up lead at the 13th. But rallying back, Leigh won two of the next four to herself take the lead, which Wilfong evened again at the 18th. Both players tied the first three extra holes before a birdie at the par-5 fourth hole finally gave Wilfong a 22-hole victory.
The other girls’ players to advance include:
- Finlay Nihei of Corona, Calif.
- Cienna Lee of Lacey, Wash.
- Yettie Bin of Surrey, B.C.
- Ira Upadhyay of Issaquah, Wash.
- Ella Wilson, of Hayden, Idaho
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.
