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Updated Apr 9, 2026Select age and skill level for an instant fit check.
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About This Event
The Gateway Junior PGA Championship is the Gateway PGA Section's official qualifier for the national Junior PGA Championship, open to both boys and girls competing over two rounds at Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, IL on June 24-25, 2026. This is a serious competitive benchmark — section-level PGA championships carry real weight on a junior resume and in college recruiting conversations. The section champion earns a direct invitation to compete at the national level against the best junior golfers in the country.
What Advancing Means
The Gateway section champion earns an automatic invitation to the 2026 Junior PGA Championship at Fields Ranch in Frisco, TX, July 28-31 — the 50th anniversary of a championship whose past winners include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Lexi Thompson. Competing at that national stage puts a junior golfer in elite company and on the radar of college programs nationwide.
Coach's Take
If your junior has the game to compete at this level, this event belongs on the schedule — a section PGA title is one of the most credible credentials a junior can carry into a college recruiting conversation.
About PGA Jr.
PGA Jr. offers competitive junior golf events. Check their tour page for full schedule and eligibility details.
Falling in late June, this championship lands at a critical point in the junior season when college coaches are actively building their recruiting lists and reviewing summer results. A section championship title or a strong finish here is exactly the kind of performance that gets a junior golfer noticed at the next level.
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