Vandal Golf Course announced as host of 2026 PNGA Junior Boys’, Girls’ Amateur Championships
Vandal Golf Course in Moscow, Idaho – home course of the University of Idaho – will serve as the venue for the 2026 PNGA Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur championships, to be held concurrently from Aug. 10-14. This will mark the third time the course 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.
The place may be pretty, but it can vandalize the scorecard of any careless golfer in a hurry. Uneven terrain and elevated greens are indicative of that, as are holes 16-18, a stretch menacingly nicknamed “Heartbreak Ridge.” All the while, summer heat will more than likely be a factor in this year’s championship.
“The primary challenges are the constant sidehill lies, tight fairways with significant elevation changes, and the wind,” said Head PGA Professional Michael Wagner. “You can’t just rely on distance. You have to be able to control your ball flight and manage uneven stances throughout the entire round. It’s a course that humbles you quickly if you lose focus.”
Moscow-native Wagner is particularly excited to host this year’s PNGA championships, having competed in the 2009 boys’ event. Now a prominent part of the course staff, he has overseen tremendous progress that he hopes the prospective college student athletes will note.
“Seeing the huge strides the course has made, from playing conditions to our overall facility, makes hosting this year incredibly rewarding,” he said. “It’s also a premier stage to showcase the University of Idaho as home to one of the best PGA Golf Management programs and courses in the country.”
The boys’ championship has been held every year since 1955, save for 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic). Aiden Szentanai won the 2025 edition. Other past champions include Mason Ho, Teigen Brill, Jake Rodgers and Collin Hodgkinson.
The girls’ championship, first held in 1956, was most recently won by Madeleine Conser. Amy Seung Hyun Lee, Yeeun Kwon, Jillian Breedlove and Kennedy Knox are additional recent champions.
Those champions, who all successfully won against the region’s best players, are indicative of a high level of golf talent that has consistently existed throughout the Northwest.
“The level of junior golf in the region is exceptionally high right now,” Wagner said, having previously played within it. “Bringing a field of this caliber to a challenging course like ours really highlights the depth of talent in the region. The scores these players post on a technical layout like the Vandal Golf Course will prove just how prepared they are for the national stage.”
The championships are two of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
