2026 Boys Junior Championship Day 2 Recap

HERSHEY, Pa. – Reading Country Club’s Chase Yenser won his second consecutive Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) Junior Boys’ Championship, fending off a challenge from Carson Kittsley (Oakmont Country Club) during a thrilling final 36 holes on Hershey Country Club’s East Course. Yenser led by two strokes over Kittsley heading into Tuesday but finished the week with a three-round total of 202 (65-69-68, -11), ahead of Kittsley’s 203 (67, 67, 69, -10). 

Yenser becomes only the sixth player to ever win multiple PAGA Junior Boys’ Championships, joining an exclusive club that includes John Updike (2016, 2019), Johnathon C. Rusk (1995, 1996), Brad Hertzog (1989, 1990), Mike Phillips (1970, 1971, 1972), and R. Jay Sigel (1960, 1961). Yenser now earns an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley Country Club on July 20-25 as well as qualification for the prestigious 2027 Sunnehanna Amateur, one of the events in the country’s Elite Amateur Golf Series. 

Yenser led Kittsley by two strokes after Monday’s first round (where Yenser birdied nine holes) and added five birdies in a mistake-free first 14 holes of his second round. Three bogeys on the final four holes of the round gave Kittsley an opening, though, and he caught fire at the start of his third round. Kittsley eagled hole No. 1 and added birdies on 5 and 6 to go three strokes ahead of Yenser after six holes.

“It was a grind out there,” said Yenser. “36 holes in this heat is brutal, so staying hydraded was the most important part all day. I knew there were going to be some ups and downs. I made some mistakes early in the third round and Carson really capitalized, he was four under through six and I was three down but then we evened up at the turn. On the back nine I made some really good putts, especially down the stretch. Overall, my game feels really good and it’s great to get another win.”

A Kittsley bogey on 7 and a double on 8 proved to be the equalizer at the turn, and Yenser birdies on 10 and 12 gave him some momentum back. Kittsley birdied 16 and 17 to knot things back up, but Yenser clutched his birdie putt on 17 that proved to be the difference – as both players carded bogeys on 18.

 “Seventeen really stands out for me,” said Yenser. “He had just made that birdie so I hit a 4-iron up there, hit a really good wedge to 10 feet, left to right, and just drained the putt. That was the most important hole of the entire tournament for me.”

 Not to be ignored in third place was Charlie Barrickman (Radley Run Country Club), who made a furious run in the third round to close with the leaders and finish with a three-day total of 204 (71-67-66, -9). Barrickman eagled holes No. 6 and 17 in the final round and added birdies on 12, 14, and 15 in his late charge up the leaderboard.

 Fourth place belonged to Callahan Harrell of Out Door Country Club with a 209 (71-69-69, -4) while a trio of players tied for fifth place at 211 (-2): Niko Ameredes (The Club at Nevillewood), Dane Mohap (FSGA Sun Coast), and Carson Hummer (Hershey Country Club).

 Complete results for this week’s Championship can be found here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12367905609671028648

 Next up on the PAGA schedule is the final 113^th Amateur Championship qualifier from the East Region on July 2 at Philmont Country Club, followed by the 23^rd R. Jay Sigel Amateur Match Play Championship from July 6-8 at the Country Club of Scranton.

 The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Hershey Country Club for the hospitality shown during this week’s Championship. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.