The 2026 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship has concluded after bringing young golfers and their families from around the world to the Pinehurst area.
The championship was held from July 30 through August 1 and featured golfers between the ages of 5 and 12. Competitors played three rounds across several championship courses in the Sandhills while participating in one of the largest junior golf events in the world.
The tournament schedule also included a Parade of Nations, parent-child competition, skills activities and a closing ceremony. The annual event gives young players the opportunity to compete on courses connected to one of the most recognized golf destinations in the country.
Blue Team Wins World Van Horn Cup
The week concluded Sunday, August 2, with the World Van Horn Cup at Pinehurst No. 4.
The event included 16 boys and 12 girls selected from the championship’s 12-year-old divisions. The golfers competed in a team best-ball stroke-play format, with each match worth one point toward the final team score.
The Blue Team defeated the Red Team by a final score of 5–2 to claim the 2026 World Van Horn Cup.
Brady Wolfe of South Carolina and Shangyi Wu of China earned the Morrison Medal in the girls division after posting a 7-under score of 65.
Yubo Shen of Thailand and Ryan Lind of California received the boys Morrison Medal after recording an 8-under round of 64.
Another International Golf Week for Pinehurst
The World Championship again placed Pinehurst and the surrounding Sandhills community at the center of international junior golf.
Players, parents and spectators spent the week competing, visiting local courses and experiencing the golf history associated with the Pinehurst area.
The championship may be over, but many of the young golfers who competed in Pinehurst could become names to watch as they continue developing their games.
Source: U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and World Van Horn Cup official tournament information.
