Preview: WPGA Junior Championship, U.S. Girls' Junior qualifier on deck Monday
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • June 7, 2025
WASHINGTON, PA — The first major championship of the 2025 WPGA competition season will be held Monday at Lone Pine Country Club in Washington.
The 105th WPGA Junior Championship will be contested over two rounds of stroke play in the single day.
81 players are set to compete in the long-running competition that dates back to 1921.
2025 marks the first time that Lone Pine Country Club will host the WPGA Junior Championship.
It also marks the first WPGA Championship event that will factor into Team Pennsylvania’s U.S. National Development Program points list.
Two former U.S. Open Champions have won the WPGA Junior crown, including Sam Parks Jr., who claimed the Junior Championship in 1926 and went on the win the U.S. Open at Oakmont nine years later, and Arnold Palmer, who won the Junior Championship in 1947 and 1948.
Jim Simons, who claimed victory at the 1966 WPGA Junior was the last amateur player to lead the US Open through a complete round. He did so at age 21 at the 1971 Open at Merion. Frank Fuhrer III won the 1976 WPGA Junior and went on to win the prestigious 1981 Western Amateur and was a member of the 1981 Walker Cup team.
Throughout its history, 11 players have won the competition twice, including William Miller, who claimed three straight titles from 2003-2005, becoming the lone player to pull off that feat.
A year ago, current West Virginia freshman Nick Turowski took home the title at Shannopin Country Club, shooting an impressive 1-under score over the two rounds, including a second round mark of 68 to deliver him his first major championship in West Penn events.
The WPGA Junior Championship is open to both junior boys and girls 18 years of age and under. All players, however, play from the same tees. This year’s Junior Championship will feature multiple junior girls golfers in the field. Players are required to walk for both rounds and caddies are permitted. However, parents, stepparents and legal guardians are not allowed to serve as caddies for the competition.
Play will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, with reigning WPGA Boys Champion Aaron Didjunas (15 & Under) teeing off on the first hole. The beginning Boys 13 & Under winner, Colin McKenzie, tees off at 9:20 a.m.
Three of the 2025 WPGA Williamson Cup representatives, Ty Hartman, Michael Quallich and Carson Kittsley, will all be in the field.
To view starting times and a live leaderboard for the WPGA Junior Championship, please click here. (GGID: 25WPGAJR)
U.S. Junior Girls Qualifying Hits Willowbrook
APOLLO — Also Monday, the WPGA will administer qualifying for the 76th U.S. Junior Girls Championship.
The single-round qualifying event will take place at Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo.
One player will qualify for the U.S. Junior Girls Championship, set to be contested at Atlanta Athletic Club July 12-19. Two alternate spots will be secured, as well.
There are currently 19 players set to compete at Willowbrook Monday.
Included in the field is Shady Side Academy freshman Alyssa Zhang, who in October became the first freshman to win a WPIAL Golf Championships in five years. She will be the first player to tee off Monday at 8 a.m.
Reigning WPGA Junior Girls Player of the Year, Mya Morgan, will tee off at 8:40 a.m.
To view starting times and a live leaderboard for the U.S. Junior Girls Championship, please click here. (GGID: 25USGIRLSJRQ)
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.