Staff WriterIf you’re wondering where the next Tiger, Spieth, or Scheffler might be this week, there’s a decent chance they’re wandering the fairways of Indiana’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
The 49th Junior PGA Championships get underway July 29–Aug. 1, and with a field as stacked as a plate of Southern barbecue, this isn’t just junior golf—it’s the prequel to greatness.
312 of the best young sticks on the planet—156 girls and 156 boys—have made the cut to compete in this four-day, 72-hole slugfest across the Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler courses.
The Junior PGA Championships, one of junior golf’s crown jewels, are open to amateurs no older than 18 on Aug. 1 and require a Section Championship qualification—or a golden ticket via exemption. Think “Willy Wonka”, but with rangefinders and sunscreen.
And yes, there will be cuts. A 36-hole trim on July 30 will narrow the field to the low 60 and ties. Then again on July 31, it’s down to 30 and ties heading into the final round. By the end, only the coolest heads (and hottest putters) will be left standing.
The Field of Dreams—With Wedges
In the girls’ division, nine of the top 20 junior golfers in the Rolex AJGA Rankings will tee it up, headlined by the electrifying Asterisk Talley (No. 2), a 15-year-old phenom from California with more titles than most club champions: “PING Invitational,” “ANNIKA Invitational,” and the “Fortinet Stanford Invitational hosted by Rose Zhang” are all already on her résumé.
Joining her are Yujie Liu (No. 5), a Shanghai native with a swing smoother than a jazz solo, and Anna Fang (No. 6), whose runner-up performances this year alone would make most pros weep with envy.
The boys aren’t exactly short on firepower either. Luke Colton (No. 3) from Frisco, Texas is already a two-time high school state champ and has committed to Vanderbilt.
Giuseppe Puebla (No. 7) might be the most travelled of the bunch—already having dipped his toe into Korn Ferry Tour waters.
And Jessy Huebner (No. 8) brings a resume littered with podium finishes, including a win at the 2025 Golf Performance Academy Junior Championship.
But here’s the name that’s turning heads—Charlie Woods. Yes, that Woods. The 16-year-old son of Tiger enters fresh off a win at the Team TaylorMade Invitational. He’s got the swagger, the lineage, and, reportedly, the same icy stare over a 6-footer.
From Indiana With Love
A healthy contingent of Hoosiers—22 to be exact—will also take a swing at glory, repping the host Indiana PGA Section. From Carmel’s Gabe Berglund to Boonville’s Cash Willis, this is their shot to show the rest of the country that Indiana doesn’t just produce basketball players.
🏌️ Indiana PGA Section Players in the Field (22)
| Player | Hometown |
|---|---|
| Gabe Berglund | Carmel, Indiana |
| Ava Bunker | Edinburgh, Indiana |
| Sam Carraher | Crown Point, Indiana |
| Ryan Cesare | Westfield, Indiana |
| Paige Giovenco | Sellersburg, Indiana |
| Kennedy Gutierrez | Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Luke Haarer | Middlebury, Indiana |
| Silas Haarer | Middlebury, Indiana |
| Will Harvey | Westfield, Indiana |
| Alex Holder | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Luke Johnston | Evansville, Indiana |
| Ashley Kirkland | Newburgh, Indiana |
| Taylor Larkins | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Ressie Lemmon | McCordsville, Indiana |
| Kaden Puranik | Chesterton, Indiana |
| Lexi Ray | Franklin, Indiana |
| Reese Roudebush | Carmel, Indiana |
| Micah Sheffer | Brownstown, Indiana |
| Taylor Snively | Zionsville, Indiana |
| Max Steiner | Zionsville, Indiana |
| Landon Tropf | Gas City, Indiana |
| Cash Willis | Boonville, Indiana |
More Than Trophies on the Line
The Junior PGA Championships are more than just another tournament. They’re a launchpad. Past players include Rose Zhang, Lexi Thompson, Justin Thomas, and yes—Tiger himself. And this year’s spoils are even sweeter.
The winners and runners-up in both divisions will book a ticket to the 2025 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, provided they’re eligible and still in the class of 2026 or younger. The team event will be played on hallowed ground—Nassau Country Club and Bethpage Black in New York, Sept. 23–25.
And the perks don’t stop there. The Girls Division champ will earn a spot in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, while the Boys Division winner heads to the 2026 Tulum Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. Not bad for a week’s work.
A Look Back
Last year, the Championships played out at the storied Congressional Country Club in Maryland. Avery McCrery took the Girls Division by two strokes at 6-under, while Baylor Larrabee stormed to a 10-under victory in the Boys Division. This year? New venue, new stars, same promise of greatness.
In Summary
The Junior PGA Championships aren’t just a showcase—they’re a preview. A crystal ball, if you will, where we glimpse tomorrow’s golfing gods. So keep an eye on Purdue this week. Because long before they’re lifting green jackets or Wanamaker trophies, they’re chasing glory in West Lafayette.
For full tee times, updates, and leaderboard carnage, visit JuniorPGAChampionship.com and follow along on Instagram and X.
