U.S. Junior Amateur 2026 Set for Saucon Valley

Tournament Overview

The 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur opens Monday at Saucon Valley Golf Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, drawing a field of 264 of the nation’s top boys golfers. This marks the second time the championship returns to this course and the fourth occurrence in the Keystone State. Defending champion Hamilton Coleman, a 17‑year‑old from Augusta, Georgia, will attempt to repeat his 2‑and‑1 victory over Vietnam’s Minh Nguyen from last year’s event at Dallas’s Trinity Forest. The event is billed as the premier junior competition in American golf.

July’s schedule combines stroke‑play rounds on the Grace Course with match play on the historic Old Course. After two days of stroke play, the top 64 advance to a knockout format that culminates in a 36‑hole final on Saturday. Admission is free, so fans can watch the action unfold without a ticket. The stakes are high, as the champion earns a spot in the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and multiple exemptions for future USGA events.

Course Details

The Old Course at Saucon Valley serves as the match‑play venue, featuring a balanced set of par‑3, par‑4, and par‑5 holes. The front nine totals 3,691 yards (Par 36) while the back nine stretches 3,391 yards (Par 35), producing an 8,082‑yard challenge rated Par 71. The Grace Course will host the opening stroke‑play rounds on Monday and Tuesday, offering a different strategic test before the field narrows.

• Hole 1: 560 yds (Par 5)
• Hole 2: 472 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 3: 375 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 4: 155 yds (Par 3)
• Hole 5: 478 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 6: 562 yds (Par 5)
• Hole 7: 456 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 8: 421 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 9: 212 yds (Par 3)
• Hole 10: 385 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 11: 170 yds (Par 3)
• Hole 12: 435 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 13: 334 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 14: 183 yds (Par 3)
• Hole 15: 617 yds (Par 5)
• Hole 16: 500 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 17: 419 yds (Par 4)
• Hole 18: 348 yds (Par 4)

Broadcast & Viewing

Fans can follow the competition on Golf Channel and GolfChannel.com. Quarterfinal and semifinal matches air live on GolfChannel.com Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, with a tape‑delay broadcast on Golf Channel from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. The championship match is slated for Saturday, July 25, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. Coverage is also available via the FuboTV platform, which carries the Golf Channel feed.

Field Insights

The participant list includes a mix of seasoned amateurs and promising newcomers. Japan’s Riku Takase, the lone 13‑year‑old, will be 13 years, 8 months, and 16 days old at the start, while Eli Weidmann from California is the oldest at 18 years, 11 months, and 22 days. The average age of the field sits at 16.94, highlighting a competitive balance between youth and experience. Two former USGA champions—Hamilton Coleman (2025 U.S. Junior Amateur) and Tyler Mawhinney (2025 U.S. Amateur Four‑Ball)—are among the competitors.

Internationals make up 30 of the 264 entries, representing countries ranging from France and Vietnam to South Korea and New Zealand. The United States dominates with 180 golfers, spread across 39 states, with California leading the way at 28 players. In terms of world amateur rankings, Miles Russell (U.S.) sits at No. 7, Oscar Couilleau (France) at No. 33, Louis Klein (Czechia) at No. 65, and Tuan Anh Nguyen (Vietnam) at No. 98.

Prizes & Format

The winner receives the U.S. Junior Amateur Trophy, a spot defending the title in future championships, and a plaque displayed in the USGA Hall of Champions. Additionally, the champion earns exemption from qualifying for subsequent U.S. Junior Amateurs, automatic entry into the 2026 and 2027 U.S. Amateur Championships, and, if still amateur, a berth into the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The format begins with two days of stroke play, followed by match play from Wednesday through Saturday, culminating in a 36‑hole final.

• Custody of the U.S. Junior Amateur Trophy for one year
• Exemption from qualifying for future U.S. Junior Amateurs
• Exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (must be an amateur)
• Exemption into the 2026 and 2027 U.S. Amateur Championships
• Name engraved on a plaque honoring the 2026 USGA champions in the Hall of Champions

Future Host Courses

The championship will continue its tour across the country, with upcoming venues including Chambers Bay (Washington, 2027), Woodmont Country Club (Maryland, 2028), Sand Valley Resort (Wisconsin, 2029), and Colorado Golf Club (Colorado, 2030). Later years feature Pinehurst Resort (North Carolina, 2032), Whistling Straits (Wisconsin, 2033), and a return to the Pacific Northwest at Bandon Dunes (Oregon, 2045). These future sites illustrate the USGA’s effort to showcase diverse golf landscapes while maintaining the event’s prestige.

The 2026 edition at Saucon Valley promises a blend of historic charm and elite competition, setting the stage for the next generation of American golf stars.