HOOVER, AL – (Dec. 18, 2025) Junior Golf Alabama (JGA) has announced the 2025 JGA Players of the Year after a successful 3rd season of the JGA Tour, the competitive component of Junior Golf Alabama’s programming.
To honor junior golfers who performed exceptionally in the JGA Tour, JGA identifies award recipients as the top-ranked golfer within their respective Age Division, based on the season-long JGA Tour Points Race Presented by Edwin Watts.
The Age Divisions include Boys 14-18, Girls 14-18, Boys 12-13, Girls 12-13, Boys 9-11, Girls 9-11, Boys 9-11 (9-Hole), Girls 9-11 (9-Hole), Boys 6-8, and Girls 6-8.
The JGA Tour experienced significant growth in 2025, marked by record participation and continued expansion throughout Alabama.
- 518 total participants in 2025, marking an increase of 154 players from 2024
- Eight JGA Tour events hosted across the state
- Two new venues added: Bent Brook Golf Course (Bessemer) and Blackberry Trail Golf Course (Florence)
- Two Youth on Course partner venues: Azalea City Golf Course and Blackberry Trail Golf Course
- 27 new First on Course participants gained 2025
2025 Junior Golf Alabama Player of the Year Award Winners
Boys 14-18 Age Division
2025 Player of the Year: Liam Hooten of Harvest, Ala.
- Played in 2 JGA Tour events
-
2 JGA Tour wins for a 100% record
- Blackberry Trail Junior Amateur Champion
- Burningtree Junior Amateur Champion (*Won in scorecard playoff in rain-shortened event)
2025 Player of the Year: Laney Gough of Athens, Ala.
- Played in 4 JGA Tour events
-
1 JGA Tour victory and 2 second place finishes
- Blackberry Trail Junior Amateur Champion
- Burningtree Junior Amateur Silver Medalist
- Goose Pond Junior Amateur Silver Medalist
2025 Player of the Year: Joe Hamilton of Mobile, Ala.
- Played in 4 JGA Tour events
-
2 JGA Tour Wins for a 50% record
- Bent Brook Junior Amateur Champion (*won in scorecard playoff)
- Lakewood Junior Amateur Champion
- 2024 JGA Tour Boys 12-13 Division Player of the Year
2025 Player of the Year: Kennedy Cox of Hoover, Ala.
- Played in 6 JGA Tour events
-
3 JGA Tour wins for a 50% record
- Burningtree Junior Amateur Champion
- Blackberry Trail Junior Amateur Champion
- Hudson Junior Amateur Champion
- 2024 JGA Tour Girls 9-11 (9-hole) Division Player of the Year
2025 Player of the Year: Landon Cunningham of Huntsville, Ala.
- Played in 5 JGA Tour events
-
1 JGA Tour win
- Blackberry Trail Junior Amateur Champion
- Claimed Player of the Year by a 20 point margin
2025 Player of the Year: Norah Ahmad of Hoover, Ala.
- Played in 1 JGA Tour event
-
1 JGA Tour win for a 100% record
- Hudson Junior Amateur Champion
2025 Player of the Year: Tristan Cook of Birmingham, Ala.
- Played in all 8 JGA Tour Events
-
1 JGA Tour Win
- Burningtree Junior Amateur Champion
- 2023 and 2024 JGA Tour Boys 6-8 division Player of the Year
2025 Player of the Year: Mackenzie Brown of Mobile, Ala.
- Played in 4 JGA Tour events
-
4 JGA Tour wins for a 100% record
- Burningtree Junior Amateur Champion
- Mobile Junior Amateur Champion
- Bent Brook Junior Amateur Champion
- Lakewood Junior Amateur Champion
2025 Player of the Year: Cayse Ackerman of Kimberly, Ala.
- Played in all 8 JGA Tour events
-
3 JGA Tour wins
- Burningtree Junior Amateur Champion
- JGA Tour Final Presented by Smylie Kaufman Champion (*won in scorecard playoff)
- Lakewood Junior Amateur Champion
2025 Player of the Year: Riley-Harper Lawrence of Daphne, Ala.
- Played in 3 JGA Tour events
-
3 JGA Tour victories for a 100% record
- JGA Tour Final Presented by Smylie Kaufman Champion
- Mobile Junior Amateur Champion
- Lakewood Junior Amateur Champion
- 2024 JGA Tour Girls 6-8 division Player of the Year
About Junior Golf Alabama (JGA)
Established in 2022, Junior Golf Alabama (JGA) is a joint initiative by the Alabama Golf Association and the Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section to serve as a collaboration focused on junior golf for kids, parents, coaches, golf administrators, and PGA Professionals. By creating new educational, instructional, and playing opportunities, JGA streamlines the junior golf roadmap while bridging existing programs to further the development of junior golf in Alabama and NW Florida.
JGA is operated by a team of staff from both the Alabama Golf Association and the Alabama - NW Florida PGA Section. By combining the junior golf initiatives of both the Alabama Golf Association and Alabama - NW Florida PGA Section into one collaborative organization, Junior Golf Alabama can present prospective junior golfers with a robust set of resources and a supportive player pathway that guarantees success.
For more information about Junior Golf Alabama, please visit www.juniorgolfalabama.org.
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Media Contact:
Mikayla King
Director of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-803-6524
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