SCGA News

U.S. National Development Program's Team California Announced

Written by Jack Margaros | Jan 23, 2025 5:53:09 PM

The Southern California Golf Association (SCGA), Southern California PGA (SCPGA) and San Diego Junior Golf Association (SDJGA) are helping shape the future of American junior golf alongside the United States Golf Association (USGA) with the naming of Team California on Friday.

Team California is one of 16 state team pilot programs across the country that will expand the pipeline for elite local golfers into the USGA's recently created U.S. National Development Program. This program is the United States' first national development program to provide a clear and unified pathway for the nation's top players, beginning with competitive junior golf through to the pinnacles of the sport.

Team California will strengthen and diversify the junior golf pipeline by creating critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities within each state for elite athletes ages 13-18. The Team California Committee, consisting of members of the PGA of America, SCPGA, SCGA and SDJGA, will name 10 boys and 10 girls to the team each year. Athletes earn their way onto the team through outstanding competitive performance during the season.

2025 Team California (Boys)

Name Graduation Year Hometown
Adam Anderson 2025 Ventura
Trevor Cox 2025 San Diego
Max Emberson 2026 Thousand Oaks
Connor Herrera 2026 Encinitas
Max Margolis 2025 Palm Desert
Brady McHenry 2025 Ventura
Luke Ringkamp 2026 Palm Desert
Jaden Soong 2028 Burbank
Theodore Vigna 2025 Santa Barbara
Branden Wong 2026 Los Angeles

 

2025 Team California (Girls)

Name Graduation Year Hometown
Mia Clausen 2028 Carlsbad
Kate Hu 2027 San Diego
Jessica Jang 2026 La Cañada
Fay Jia 2028 Murrieta
Zoe Jiamanukoonkit 2026 San Diego
Rina Kawasaki 2028 Rancho Palos Verdes
Juliet Oh 2026 Diamond Bar
Eliana Saga 2027 Stevenson Ranch
Vivi Yen 2027 Pomona
Isabella Wu 2027 Torrance

 

Player Bios


Adam Anderson

Age: 18 
Committed to play at the University of Oklahoma in fall 2025 
Reached quarterfinals of 2024 California Amateur Championship 
Three top-5 finishes at three 2024 AJGA championships 

 

Mia Clausen

Age: 14 
2024 Nike Junior Invitational Champion 
2024 AJGA PGA WEST Junior Champion 
Runner-up at the 2024 Toyota Tour Cup Championship 

 

Trevor Cox

Age: 18 
Committed to play at UC-Berkeley in fall 2025 
T3 finish at the 2024 AJGA PGA WEST Junior Championship 
T6 finish at the 2024 IMG Academy Junior World Championships (Boys 15 – 18) 

 

Max Emberson

Age: 16 
Committed to play at the University of Oklahoma in fall 2026 
2024 CIF State Boys High School Individual Champion 
2024 Toyota Tour Cup Player of the Year 

 

Connor Herrera

Age: 16 
Committed to play at the University of San Diego in fall 2026 
Runner-up finish at the 2024 Southern California Junior Amateur Golf Championship 
T3 finish at the 2024 AJGA HMG Junior Championship 

 

Kate Hu

Age: 15
2024 AJGA HMG Junior Champion
T2 at the 2024 AJGA The Spin Junior Championship
Member of the 2024 CIF State Girls High School Team Champions (Torrey Pines)

 

Jessica Jang

Age: 16 
Runner-up finish at the 2024 Southern California Junior Amateur Golf Championship 
4th place finish at the 2024 AJGA Spin Junior Championship 
Tied for 7th at the 2024 AJGA Seri Pak Desert Junior 

 

Fay Jia

Age: 15 
2024 AJGA TaylorMade Qi10 All-Star Champion 
2nd place at the 2024 AJGA Kevin Harvick Foundation Junior Championship 
T8 finish at the 2024 SCGA Women’s Amateur Championship 

 

Zoe Jiamanukoonkit

Age: 17 
Committed to play at UC-Berkeley in fall 2026 
Reached Round of 16 at the 2024 California Women’s Amateur Championship 
Member of the 2024 CIF State Girls High School Team Champions (Torrey Pines) 

 

Rina Kawasaki

Age: 15 
2024 CIF State Girls High School Champion  
T6 finishes at both the 2024 Southern California Junior Amateur Golf Championship and Toyota Tour Cup Championship. 
Reached Round of 16 at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship

 

Max Margolis

Age: 17 
Committed to play at Santa Clara University in fall 2025 
2024 Toyota Tour Cup Champion – Palm Desert Resort 
Three other top-10 finishes in 2024 Toyota Tour Cup events 

 

Brady McHenry

Age: 17 
Committed to play at Texas Tech University in fall 2025 
Runner-up finish at 2024 Toyota Tour Cup Championship 
T3 finish at the 2024 AJGA PGA WEST Junior Championship 

 

Juliet Oh

Age: 16 
Top-5 finish at the 2024 Southern California Junior Amateur Golf Championship 
6th place finishes at both the 2024 Toyota Tour Championship and 2024 AJGA UHY Junior Open  
2024 Inland Empire Golfer of the Year

 

Luke Ringkamp

Age: 17 
Committed to play at Pepperdine University in fall 2026 
2024 California State Junior Amateur Champion 
Top 10 finish at the 2024 AJGA PGA WEST Junior Championship 

 

Eliana Saga

Age: 15 
2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier 
2024 AJGA Ochnsnet Health/New Orleans Classic Champion 
2024 AJGA Junior at The Mission Club Champion 

 

Jaden Soong

Age: 14 
2024 SCGA Amateur Championship (youngest ever champion) 
2024 AJGA TaylorMade Qi10 Junior All-Star Champion 
2024 Curry Cup Champion 

 

Isabella Wu

Age: 16
2024 AJGA Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Champion 
2024 Toyota Tour Cup Player of the Year
T-3 finish at 2024 Toyota Tour Cup Championship 

 

Theodore Vigna

Age: 18 
Committed to play at the University of Oregon in fall 2025 
2nd place at 2024 AJGA Junior at The Mission Club 
2nd place at 2024 SCPGA Max Homa Invitational 

 

Branden Wong

Age: 17 
2024 AJGA Junior at The Mission Club Champion
Reached Round of 32 at the 2024 California Amateur Championship
4th place finish at the 2024 Toyota Tour Cup Championship 

 

Vivi Yen

Age: 16 
3rd place finish at the 2024 AJGA UHY Junior Open 
Tied for 4th place at the AJGA HMG Junior Championship 
Tied for 6th place at the AJGA The Spin Junior Championship