Written by Jason Scott Deegan, Managing Editor GolfPass
Two talented teenage golfers.
One boy from Maryland. One girl from California.
Bryan Kim and Kiara Romero will forever be linked as 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur champions, the premier championships for boys and girls run by the United States Golf Association for golfers under age 18. Their other tie is a profound glimpse into the future of golf. They're both Youth on Course members who took advantage of $5 rounds of golf growing up to hone their games.
This is the first year the boys and and girls U.S. Junior Amateur champions are both YOC members. The 2022 U.S. Girls' Junior Am champion Yana Wilson is also still a YOC member. PGA TOUR pros Cameron Champ, Justin Suh, Austin Smotherman and LPGA Tour pro Yealimi Noh (the 2018 U.S. Girls' Junior Am winner) also carry the YOC flag as proud alumni.
"Youth on Course helped me become the player I am today," Romero said after winning in Colorado with a clutch 7-foot putt on the 36th hole in the final. "I believe golf is an amazing sport that everyone should have the opportunity to play, and Youth on Course really helps grow the game."
Read more on GolfPass.com