Meet the players selected to the first ever U.S. National Junior Team

March 26, 2024 | by United States Golf Association

U.S National Junior Team (USGA)

Blades Brown and GIanna Clementa among the 18 players selected

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the establishment of the inaugural U.S. National Junior Team, the newest milestone for the U.S. National Development Program, which launched last year to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. The program’s elite juniors represent the first of three national teams to be formed, with the Amateur Team to be announced in 2025, followed by a Young Professional Team in 2026.

Composed initially of 10 girls and eight boys, the 18-player roster represents the country’s elite junior golf talent who will embark on a unified pathway designed to nurture the potential of America’s top players. The USGA plans to grow the National Junior Team to 30 boys and 30 girls over the next three years.

“We are thrilled to introduce the first U.S. National Junior Team, a group of 18 exceptionally talented young athletes who represent the bright future of American golf,” said Chris Zambri, head coach of the U.S. National Development Program. “Nearly every other golf country in the world has long enjoyed the benefits of a developmental program and national teams, and the announcement of this team is a major milestone in the USGA’s commitment to the growth of our American athletes and ensuring we remain the global leader in the junior, amateur and professional game.”

U.S. National Junior Team Roster
Boys			Girls
			Player	Age	Hometown
Player	Age	Hometown	Shyla Brown	15	McKinney, Texas
Blades Brown	16	Nashville, Tenn.	Gianna Clemente	16	Estero, Fla.
Phillip Dunham	16	Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.	Mia Hammond	16	New Albany, Ohio
Henry Guan	15	Irving, Texas	Nikki Oh	16	Torrance, Calif.
Will Hartman	17	Marvin, N.C.	Ryleigh Knaub	17	DeBary, Fla.
Tyler Mawhinney	16	Fleming Island, Fla.	Chloe Kovelesky	17	Boca Raton, Fla.
Michael Riebe	17	Encinitas, Calif.	Emerie Schartz	16	Wichita, Kan.
Miles Russell	15	Jacksonville Beach, Fla.	Scarlett Schremmer	17	Birmingham, Ala.
Tyler Watts	16	Huntsville, Ala.	Asterisk Talley	15	Chowchilla, Calif.
			Angela Zhang	14	Bellevue, Wash.

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