The future of Kansas golf was on full display at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays as Ben Wheeler and Naomi Koontz claimed the 2026 Kansas Junior Amateur Championships.
Wheeler battled challenging conditions throughout the 54-hole championship and emerged victorious in the boys division with rounds of 76-66-70 to finish at 1-under par, securing the Kansas Junior Amateur title and earning a coveted spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, PA, July 20-25.
In the girls division, Koontz showcased remarkable consistency and resilience, posting rounds of 76-68-76 for a three-round total of 220 (+4). Her victory earned her the Kansas Girls Junior Amateur title and a berth in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship, taking place at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, NC, July 13-18.
The championship brought together many of the state’s top junior golfers, and both champions demonstrated the talent, determination, and sportsmanship that define the next generation of Kansas golf. Congratulations to Ben Wheeler and Naomi Koontz on their outstanding performances and well-deserved victories at Smoky Hill Country Club.