Junior Presidents Cup announces first 11 United States Team players and final International Team player for 2026 competition

Junior event set to be contested at Medinah Country Club, Sept. 19-21

Chicago, Ill. – The Presidents Cup and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) announced today the first 11 players, including the captain’s pick for the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup U.S. Team as well as the 12th and final player for the International Team. The event’s fifth edition is set to tee off on Sept. 19 on a unique routing of Course No. 1 and Course No. 2 at Medinah Country Club, just days before the 2026 Presidents Cup begins play on Course No. 3 at Medinah Country Club. The 12th and final Junior Presidents Cup U.S. Team member will be finalized on Sept. 10.

The Junior Presidents Cup is a two-day, team match-play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top junior boys 19 years old and younger – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – that takes place just days before the start of the biennial Presidents Cup. The Junior Presidents Cup was developed to give the world’s best non-European juniors a unique playing opportunity to compete in an international team match-play competition and showcase the global reach of junior golf.

Originally crafted in 1925 by renowned golf course architect Tom Bendelow, Medinah’s Course No. 1 has a rich tournament heritage, having hosted the inaugural Medinah Open (1930), along with both a Western Open and a Chicago Open. Reimagined in 2014 by acclaimed architect Tom Doak, the course now features generous, inviting fairways paired with thoughtfully contoured, challenging greens. Today, Course No. 1 offers an exceptional walking experience and remains a favorite for members. In 1927, Bendelow designed Medinah’s Course No. 2. It was thoughtfully restored in 2017 to honor Bendelow’s classic vision while incorporating important modern infrastructure upgrades. Designed with playability and enjoyment in mind, the course features multiple sets of tees that make it welcoming for families, beginners, and seasoned players alike.

For the U.S. Team, Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, headlines a team that features two returning players. Along with Russell, Ronin Banerjee of Irvine, California, returns to the team. Russell comes into the event as the No. 1 player in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and the No. 4 player in WAGR®. He is coming off a runner-up finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and a third-place showing at The Western Amateur Championship. The two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year is committed to Florida State and is building one of the most impressive careers by a junior golfer in many years. He has four AJGA Invitatonal wins and back-to-back wins at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. The 2024 Junior Presidents Cup U.S. Team member (1-2-0) will also participate in the Walker Cup later this year and made the cut at the U.S. Open in June.

Banerjee is currently No. 6 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and No. 187 in WAGR®. The three-time Rolex Junior All-American has three AJGA victories and many top-10 finishes, including seven in national junior golf competition in 2025 and 2026. He played alongside Russell in the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup with a record of 1-1-1. The U.S. Team features players from six states, including five players from Florida.

United States Team Captain Matt Kuchar selected Sohan Patel of Weston, Florida, as his captain’s pick. Patel is No. 18 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and recently earned co-medalist honors and advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The 2025 Rolex Junior All-American is verbally committed to Vanderbilt University.

“It’s an honor to be captain of this team and have the opportunity to make the captain’s pick,” Kuchar said. “Sohan Patel had an outstanding summer, highlighted by his strong finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur. He has proven he can compete in match play at the highest level, and I’m excited to welcome him to a group of exceptional young men as we prepare to defend The Cup at Medinah.”

International Team 12th Player: Zhi Li (China)

The 12th and final spot on the International Team was awarded to Zhi Li of China. Li is No. 180 in WAGR® after several impressive finishes in China. He has six wins, including 29 top-10 finishes in 33 WAGR® counting events. His best recognized wins came at the CLPGQ Shanghai Series – 1 in May and the CLPGQ Gionee Series – 1 in March. Li joins an International Team that is all first-time participants in the event. He also joins fellow countryman Qiyou Wu. China and South Korea are the only countries represented by more than one player.

The complete International Team and the first 11 United States players are listed below:

International Team – Captain C.T. Pan

  1. Tuan Anh Nguyen (Vietnam)
  2. Taisei Nagasaki (Japan)
  3. Qiyou Wu (China)
  4. Minsu Kim (South Korea)
  5. Cooper Moore (New Zealand)
  6. Jun Tian (Hong Kong)
  7. Settawut Kenanan (Thailand)
  8. Tomas Del Grosso (Argentina)
  9. Fernando Saravia (Guatemala)
  10. Emilio Velez (Colombia)
  11. Jeyi Son (South Korea)*
  12. Zhi Li (China)

*Captain’s Pick

United States Team (first 11) – Captain Matt Kuchar

  1. Miles Russell (Florida)
  2. Jaden Soong (California)
  3. Jessy Huebner (Florida)
  4. Ronin Banerjee (California)
  5. Giuseppe Puebla (Florida)
  6. Grayson Baucom (North Carolina)
  7. Rory Asselta (New Jersey)
  8. Sam Carraher (Indiana)
  9. Joseph Corcell (Florida)
  10. Grant DeLorenzo (Texas)
  11. Sohan Patel (Florida)*

*Captain’s Pick

United States Team Bios

Miles Russell

Jaden Soong

Jessy Huebner

Ronin Banerjee

Giuseppe Puebla

Grayson Baucom

Rory Asselta

Sam Carraher

Joseph Corcell

Grant DeLorenzo

Sohan Patel

International Team 12th Player Bio

Zhi Li (China)

Click here for complete Junior Presidents Cup Team Standings.

The 2026 Presidents Cup will be held at Medinah Country Club, September 22-27, 2026. For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com. For 2026 Junior Presidents Cup information, visit AJGA.org.