Baton Rouge, La. – July 10, 2026
Kye Hanks of Lake Charles carded rounds of 65-68-70 to finish at 13-under par 203 and win the 69 th Louisiana Junior Amateur Championship by three shots over Hudson Greene of Bossier City. Hanks is the third player all-time from Lake Charles to win the Louisiana Junior Amateur following in the footsteps of Willie Wood (1977) and Alan Morgan (1996). Hanks breaks up the streak of five champions in a row from Lafayette. Hanks played his first 34 holes and his last 14 holes of the championship without a bogey. He was solid, he was steady, and he overcame lengthy weather delays each round to achieve one of his major junior golf goals in his last
attempt, being crowned the best junior golfer in the state of Louisiana. Hanks is committed to play college golf at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette this year.
Hanks receives the perpetual Russell Gaudin Junior Amateur Championship Trophy and the $300 gift certificate “Past Champions’ Award.” In addition, the beautiful Louisiana Junior Amateur champions plaque will be updated with Hanks’ name and displayed at his home club, Lake Charles Country Club, for one year. It honors each of the past Junior Amateur Champions and is adorned with names like Sam Burns, David Toms, Hal Sutton, Brian Bateman, Phillip Barbaree, Jr., Tommy Moore, and the aforementioned Morgan and Wood. “It feels great, like all the hard work finally paid off,” said Hanks.
With his win, Hanks earned an exemption into the 78 th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley CC in Bethlehem, PA on July 20-25, 2026. This will be the first time Hanks will compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur. The Louisiana Junior Amateur Champion also earns an exemption into the 2026 Junior River Cup at Greenville Country Club in Greenville, MS on September 12-13, 2026 and the 2026 Bayou Cup at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, TX on December 5-6th. However, because Hanks is going to be on a college golf team this fall, he will not be eligible for those two exemptions. AJGA performance stars for this event are awarded as follows: Champion (Fully Exempt), Top 5 (12 Performance Stars), Top 10 (8 Performance Stars), and Top 15 (4 Performance Stars).
Maci Williams of Brusly dominated the 61 st Louisiana Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship winning wire-to-wire at Santa Maria with rounds of 67-66-71 to finish at 12-under par 204. Williams becomes the ninth player in history to win this championship three times. She also won in 2023 at Beaver Creek Golf Course (220) and 2025 at Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport (219).
It was a tale of two nines for Williams on Friday. She had a six-shot lead over the reigning Louisiana Women’s Amateur Champion Evelynn Artieta of Denham Springs to start the day. Williams got off to a shaky start, making a double-bogey and a bogey on the opening two holes. She steadied the ship with three consecutive pars followed by a birdie and then an eagle on holes 6 and 7. After making par on the 8th hole, Williams stumbled for the last time with a bogey at the par 4 9 th hole and she made the turn with first nine 37.
Williams made five straight pars to start the second nine and then made a birdie on the 15 th hole. After two more pars, Williams finished the championship in style with a birdie on 18, shooting a second nine 34. She shot two-under par 34 on the second nine in all three rounds of the championship. Williams showcased her length off the tee and ball striking ability all week and took advantage of the par 5 scoring opportunities. She was nine-under par on the par 5s.
Artieta finished runner-up at six-under par 210 and Jade Neves finished third at three-over par219. Williams earned 300 points, Artieta 270, and Neves 240 in the race to be named to the inaugural Team Louisiana based on their performances in the Louisiana Girls’ Junior Amateur. The $300 “Past Champions’ Award” will be given to the 2026 Overall Girls Champion in the form of a gift certificate. The 2026 Overall Girls Champion will also receive the Girls’ Junior Amateur perpetual trophy to be kept by the Champion at her home club until the 2027 Championship. AJGA performance stars for the Girls' Junior will be awarded as follows: Champion (8 Performance Stars), and Top 3 (4 Performance Stars).
The Overall Girls’ Champion of the 61 st Louisiana Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2026 Junior River Cup at Greenville Country Club in Greenville, MS on September 12-13, 2026. The Overall Girls’ Champion will also earn an exemption in the 2026 Bayou Cup at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas, on December 4-6, 2026.
Play in the Overall Boys Division was suspended for several hours on Friday afternoon due to lightning in the area. The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed Santa Maria Golf Course played to a par of 72 and measured approximately 6,751 yards for the Boys’ Division. The Girls’ Championship played to approximately 5,800 yards.
Click here to view final Girls’ results: 61st Louisiana Girls' Junior Amateur Championship Event :: Results
Click here to view final Boys’ results: 69th Louisiana Junior Amateur Championship Event :: Results