2026 Junior Boys’ Championship: Day One recap

Kleinschmidt, Komancheck share medal

MALVERN, Pa. —  After a weather-delayed finish, two longtime GAP junior stalwarts emerged as co-medalists in the 112th Junior Boys’ Championship Stroke-Play Qualifying on Tuesday at Chester Valley Golf Club (par 70, 6,603 yards). Play resumed at 8:30 a.m. following Monday’s suspension.

| Scoring portal | History | Medalists history | Junior Team History | Photos |

Luca Kleinschmidt and Colby Komancheck each posted a 1-over-par 71 to share medalist honors.

Kleinschmidt completed his round before play was suspended Monday. Komancheck returned Tuesday morning and parred each of his final four holes to earn a share of the medal. Following a blind draw, Komancheck is the No. 2 seed while Kleinschmidt claimed the No. 3 seed.

Sean Curran of Merion Golf Club is seeded No. 1 by virtue of his status as defending champion.

It is a second straight Junior Boys’ medal for Kleinschmidt, 18, of Wallingford, Pa. He turned the trick a year ago at Merion Golf Club (West). Kleinschmidt’s share makes him the first repeat medalist since Morgan Lofland in 2020-21.

First-round matches are scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday.

There was a seven-for-five playoff for the final spots of the Championship Flight.

Both players entered Stroke-Play Qualifying with something to prove.

In U.S. Open Local Qualifying on May 4 at Chester Valley Golf Club, Kleinschmidt turned the first nine in 4-under-par 31 to sit atop the leaderboard. He finished at 2 over and missed advancing. The soon-to-be Millersville University freshman applied the lessons learned that day on his return trip to the club.

“There were some sloppy bogeys in that round. On No. 11, I missed the green from 90 yards and didn’t get up-and-down. I had a good bounce back birdie on 13 but gave it right back by putting it in the water off the tee on No. 14. A double on a par 5 kills the card.

“It got super windy and really firm. Something I didn’t fully understand, was how to play in that kind of wind. It would have been cool to make U.S. Open Final Qualifying but instead of being down about it, I did my best to take it as a learning experience. I also understand now the importance of knowing where you are at on the leaderboard instead of avoiding it. For me, [knowing where you are at on the leaderboard] gives you a sense of comfort. It’s knowing what you either need to do or not. I think if I had looked at the leaderboards coming in I would have been in a better shape. It was a good learning opportunity on a tough golf course.”

Chester Valley flexed its muscles with firm, fast conditions during his round. Gusty winds made it punishing.

Kleinschmidt, of The Springhaven Club, guided his way to an even-par 35 on the outward nine. A bogey on No. 18 (par 4, 440 yards) prevented a matching 35s finish. No stress. He was clearly in the match-play bracket at that point.

“I know this summer is going to be really long. I mean that round has helped me more than any other I can remember. I just gotta keep moving,” said Kleinschmidt again about the U.S. Open Local round. “I think it was a great experience because it was really cool seeing my name up there with some guys that have played really well in some really big events. I was playing against guys like Patrick Sheehan [2024 William Hyndman, III Player of the Year]. He was third on the PGA TOUR AMERICAS. It’s one round of golf, and it’s one back nine of golf.”

Kleinschmidt faces Nathan Goblirsch of GAP Youth on Course in the Round of 16.

Komancheck, too, steadied his golfing ship. One that’s been listing for a bit this season. He missed U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying by a wide margin. A couple of PGA Junior Tour events haven’t been as consistent as hoped.

“It has not been the greatest year for me so far. My last few tournaments have been one very solid round, and then the next round, I just kind of throw it all away,” said Komancheck, 16, of Royersford, Pa. “I’m happy with this round. I’ve gotten myself into a good spot.”

His good spot came with great mental fortitude.

Komancheck, of RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, completed 14 holes at 1-over with a pair of stop and starts. He returned to the golf course Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and registered four pars to finish.

“I would say it was harder yesterday. It was it was so on-and-off,” said Komancheck, a junior at Malvern Prep. “You’re trying not to rush but play as quickly as you can so you don’t have to come back. I knew what I had to do coming in. I wasn’t going to try and push anything. Even pars around here are good, especially considering how tough it was playing.”

Komancheck is a member of USNDP Team Pennsylvania.

Komancheck faces Brad McDermott of Merion Golf Club in the Round of 16.

NOTES-Overbrook Golf Club, represented by Cole Berry, Lannon Boyd and Freddy Hartmann, won the Junior Team Championship with a score of 21-over-par 231. The Junior Team Championship runs concurrently with Junior Boys’ Championship Qualifying. Boyd shot 75 with Berry and Hartmann carding matching 78s. It is Overbrook’s first title since 2005.

Junior Boys’ Championship
The Junior Boys’ Championship is the premier Major in the GAP Junior Division. Originally known as the Junior Golf Championship of Philadelphia, the event was conceived by Robert Lesley, the longest tenured president in GAP history (1906-24). It is open to members of a GAP Member Club 14-18 years of age who have not started their college education and who hold a handicap index of 14.4 or lower. Sixteen players qualify for match play; an additional 16 advance into the event’s First Flight.

The Junior Boys’ Champion is awarded the Peg Burnett Trophy, named in honor of the organization’s beloved Executive Secretary from 1951-76. Burnett was an ardent junior golf supporter who emphasized sportsmanship and respect for the game. “I was very strict about checking the rule book. I didn’t make the rules, but since they are there, you have to abide by them.” Dalton Balthaser profiled Burnett in the Summer 2024 edition of GAP Magazine.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 130,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.