September 20 – 21, 2025
Orange County National Junior Open
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Winter Garden, FL – September 21, 2025, The Boys 16–18 Division at the Orange County National Junior Open came down to a dramatic finish, with Nolan DeForest (Crystal River, FL) winning a one-hole playoff to secure the championship.
DeForest and Forrest Benson (Mahomet, IL) both finished at 3-under (141) after matching closing rounds of 68. In the playoff, DeForest held his nerve to edge Benson and claim the trophy.
Just behind, Will Hacker (Owatonna, MN) finished third at even par (144), while Sol Richmond (Singapore) took fourth at +1 (145). Luke Dodson (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) rounded out the top five at +2 (146).
The leaderboard was packed with international talent, including players from Mexico, China, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, and the Dominican Republic, highlighting the global reach of the HJGT.
With DeForest’s playoff heroics, Benson’s clutch Sunday 68, and Hacker’s steady play, the Orange County National Junior Open delivered one of the most competitive finishes of the fall season.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Nolan DeForest
-3 Total
No. 2 Rank
Forrest Benson
-3 Total
No. 3 Rank
Will Hacker
E Total
September 20 – 21, 2025
Kansas City MO Junior Open
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Richmond, MO – September 21, 2025, Joe Honn (Overland Park, KS) emerged victorious at the Kansas City MO Junior Open, capturing the Boys 16–18 Division with a two-day total of +6 (148). Honn’s opening round 72 set the tone, and despite a closing 76, he held on to secure a narrow one-shot win.
Just behind him, George Besch (Leawood, KS) surged on Sunday with the round of the day, an even-par 71, to finish tied for second at +7 (149) alongside Jake Gorden (Grain Valley, MO), who posted steady rounds of 76–73.
Porter Howard (Fairway, KS) was in the mix throughout, finishing fourth at +8 (150), while Easton Moulin (Holton, KS) rounded out the top five at +14 (156).
With a deep field featuring strong performances from across the region, Honn’s steadiness under pressure proved decisive in claiming the top spot at Shirkey Golf Club.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Joe Honn
+6 Total
No. 2 Rank
George Besch
+7 Total
No. 2 Rank
Jake Gorden
+7 Total
September 20 – 21, 2025
Jekyll Island Fall Junior Open
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Jekyll Island, GA – September 2025, Chip Dickens (Athens, GA) battled tough coastal conditions to capture the Boys 16–18 Division at the Jekyll Island Fall Junior Open. Dickens posted rounds of 74–73 to finish at +3 (147), securing a three-shot victory.
Joey Looby (Cheyenne, WY) finished runner-up at +6 (150) after back-to-back steady rounds of 74–76, while international players Louis Pargeter (Leeds, England) and Seleem Taher (Sheikh Zayed, Egypt) shared third at +8 (152).
Rounding out the top five was Gavin Baker (Greencastle, PA) at +13, with Harper Staggs (St. Simons Island, GA) close behind at +14.
The field featured strong regional and international talent, but Dickens’ composure across both rounds allowed him to stay in control and emerge as champion on one of Georgia’s most scenic but demanding venues.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Chip Dickens
+3 Total
No. 2 Rank
Joey Looby
+6 Total
No. 3 Rank
Louis Pargeter
+8 Total
No. 3 Rank
Seleem Taher
+8 Total
September 20 – 21, 2025
Northeast Regional Invitational
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Hopewell, NJ – September 2025, The Boys 16–18 Division at the Northeast Regional Invitational brought together some of the strongest junior golfers in the region, and it was Braden Bhalla (Ridgewood, NJ) who emerged victorious. Bhalla opened with a sharp 70 before grinding through a tougher final round 75 to finish at +1 (145), capturing the title by three shots.
Patrick O’Connor (Fayetteville, NY) delivered back-to-back 74s to claim runner-up honors at +4 (148), while Connor Henrey (Longmeadow, MA) rounded out the podium in third at +5 (149).
A logjam followed at +8 (152), where Myles Jackson (Hillsborough, NJ), Eddie Ponagai (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY), and Sebastian Skibo (Ridgewood, NJ) all tied for fourth.
The leaderboard was deep with talent, as 12 players finished within 15 strokes of the lead, including strong showings from Dylan Mattessich (Manasquan, NJ), Tyler Whitney (Cherry Hill, NJ), and Kai Sugimoto (Tokyo, Japan), each demonstrating the competitive depth of the field.
Bhalla’s mix of composure and timely shot-making proved decisive, allowing him to hold off challengers on a demanding Hopewell Valley layout. His win capped off a weekend that underscored the strength of Northeast junior golf and set the stage for an exciting close to the fall season.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Braden Bhalla
+1 Total
No. 2 Rank
Patrick OConnor
+4 Total
No. 3 Rank
Connor Henrey
+5 Total
