The first local qualifying tournament for the renowned USWING MOJING Junior World Championship took place April 18–19 at the Betsy King USWING MOJING Junior World Qualifier, sending 19 players to the global stage. The USWING MOJING Junior World Championship tees off July 7-9 in San Diego, home to the world’s largest junior golf tournament.
Toka Sticks Golf Club hosted the Boys Championship division, with the first qualifier Easton Rieschl of Scottsdale earning top medalist honors after two red-hot rounds of 64-68. The Scottsdale player drew first blood after a lights out opening round where he recorded two eagles on the front nine par 5s, setting the tone with a scorcher at 8-under. Although he strung together one of his best rounds in his JGAA tenure, the competition wouldn’t let him slip away that easily as Asher Nelson remained just one shot behind and ready to make a final-round run. An action-packed, eventful battle unfolded as the Scottsdale natives duked it out for the top spot. A thrilling nailbiter came down to the very end, lead changes teetered back and forth, but Rieschl’s first-round success proved enough to knock off the contenders at 12-under par. Asher Nelson fell just short of his comeback bid but concluded in solo second at 11-under par to secure his position to San Diego. The four-way tie for third (John Matheny III of Tucson, Nathan Ash of Tempe, Karsten McCain of Flagstaff and Hank Miller of Phoenix) created a tossup for the remaining qualifier spots Karsten McCain outperformed the field in a tiebreaker; John Matheny III and Hank Miller locked in the last two alternate spots in the Boys Championship division.
Toka Sticks Golf Club also hosted the Boys 15-18 division which showcased a suspenseful playoff to determine the victor. Cash Chapman of Chandler (pulled it off, defeating Caleb Schmersahl of Gilbert in a head-to-head playoff.
The Girls Championship division squared off at Western Skies Golf Club with two qualifiers and two alternates heading to San Diego. Julia Herzberg smoked the field with a masterclass performance at 13-under par, cruising to the title. The dominant victory marks her first win of the 2026 season. However, Herzberg chose to opt out of playing in Junior Worlds this summer. This meant the two qualifying slots were for the taking and blew the door wide open for the others. The next-woman-up mentality played out literally for finalizing the qualifiers bound to tee it up in San Diego this summer. Lauren Richardson of Gilbert and Kaitlyn Moreland of Scottsdale stepped up in light of Herzberg’s withdrawal and notched the two coveted spots at 4-under par. Abby Kelly of Mesa (E) and Malone Wall of Scottsdale (+2) earned the two alternates.
In the Girls 15-18 division, also contested at Western Skies, Kimsey Terrell of Phoenix, who also competed in Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, put forth an unbelievably rock-solid display of ball striking and course management to capture the Girls 15-18 title as the only player in red figures at 4-under par. It’s her second Girls 15-18 win for Terrell’s JGAA career.
Bear Creek’s Bear Course hosted the Boys and Girls 13-14 divisions. Nolan Wilson of Litchfield Park claims the Boys side by four strokes to solidify the first ticket to San Diego at 7-under-par 135. Two other players received qualifier honors in the Boys 13-14 division. Cam Abood of Paradise Valley (-3) and Xavier Apodaca of Phoenix (-2) round out the qualifier field. Andrew Kung of Phoenix and Gabriel Mathur of Scottsdale garner the two alternate spots. In the Girls 13-14 division, Yena Kim of Mesa brings home the hardware by three strokes at 5-over par to cruise into the top qualifier rank. Minzi Kim of Phoenix also collects a qualifier seed as runner up at 8-over par. Brianna Gibson of Gilbert and Teria Williams of Glendale (+12) each earned alternate spots into contention.
Three players in the Boys 11-12 division advanced to the global stage. Jace Anderson of Anthem won by a stroke at 2-over (59-61) at Bear Creek’s Cub Course. Joey Morin of Gilbert (58-63) came in second place at 3-over par, and Scottsdale’s Maddox Zlotoff rounded out the final qualifier ticket at 6-over par (60-64). Nolan Parpart of Scottsdale and Ryan Chin of Chandler claim the two alternate spots.
As for the Girls 11-12 division, Amy Xuan of Chandler blew the field away by 10 shots at 4-over par for the first-place crown and qualifier standing. Annie Do of Phoenix (+14) earns the final qualifying spot in the division. Brooke Servoss of Tucson and Dylan Wright of Gilbert receive the alternates (+15).
Sahir Nainwal of Gilbert chalks up a win in the Boys 8-10 division at +6 (66-58). He finished two ahead of Phoenician Jack Patel who posted +8 on the scorecard at 64-62. They both attained spots to San Diego. Emery Bingham of Glendale (+9) and Bryce Thomas of Mesa (+14) received the two alternates. In addition, Lucas Serra of Scottsdale and Barry Trout Jr. of Prescott Valley are both heading to San Diego after qualifying in the Boys 7-8 division.
In the Girls 8-10 division, Aviana Vilar of Chandler won at 6-over par (62-62) to dominate her way to the first qualifying spot for the division, and Julee Diaz of Phoenix grabs the second after shooting 63-68, +13. Fiona Pate of Gilbert (+18) and Jennah Um of Chandler (+23) close the event with the two alternate spots.
The second USWING MOJING Junior World Championship qualifier is set for June 2–3 at the Milt Coggins AZ Jr. Stroke Play, contested across Papago Golf Club and Encanto 18/9.
The 2026 USWING MOJING Junior World Championships tee off July 7-9 in San Diego. What began in 1968 as the vision of John W. Brown, A.S. “Lou” Smith, and Norrie West — organized by the San Diego Junior Golf Association — has grown into the largest junior golf tournament in the world. The championship, which originally welcomed 50 players at Mission Valley Country Club, now hosts 1,200 competitors from 56 countries and 42 U.S. states across Torrey Pines and several other premier San Diego-area courses.
The mission has remained unchanged since day one: bring young golfers together from every corner of the globe, give them a world-class competitive stage, and foster the kind of cultural understanding that only sport can create. For more information on the USWING MOJING Junior World Championships, visit https://www.juniorworldgolf.com/
