Junior Golf Stars Secure Spots in 2026 U.S. Open

Two of the nation’s leading junior golfers have clinched their participation in the upcoming 2026 U.S. Open. Giuseppe Puebla from Royal Palm Beach and Miles Russell from Jacksonville Beach achieved this milestone at the Florida qualifier held on June 8 at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, known as "Golf's Longest Day."

Puebla delivered an impressive performance, finishing with a score of 7-under par over two rounds, which earned him a tie for first place. Meanwhile, Russell, with the notable presence of Charlie Woods—son of golf legend Tiger Woods—as his caddy, progressed through a tense 3-for-2 sudden death playoff.

Currently, Puebla and Russell hold the top two positions in the American Junior Golf Association’s Rolex rankings, with Puebla ranked No. 1 and Russell No. 2. Both golfers surpassed several seasoned PGA Tour professionals, including Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Matt Kuchar, who collectively have secured 35 professional victories.

The 2026 U.S. Open is set to take place from June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. The Florida qualifier featured a strong lineup of local talent, including Wylie Inman from North Palm Beach and Oscar Crowe from Boca Raton, both of whom have recently made their mark in varsity golf.

During the qualifier, Russell initially led the field before a triple bogey on the final hole put him in a challenging position. Conversely, Puebla encountered difficulties early on with three straight bogeys but made a remarkable comeback, recording five birdies in his last six holes of the first round. As the day progressed, Puebla’s steady play put him in the lead, while Russell’s late surge included seven birdies. However, a double bogey on his second to last hole sent him into a playoff against Ryder Cowan and Tyler Collett. Cowan secured the first qualifying spot, while Russell clinched the last one with a birdie on the second playoff hole.