England’s Lauren Crump closes with a 1-under 70 to earn individual honours and a
2027 CPKC Women’s Open Exemption
BRAMPTON, Ont. – The United States took the solo lead on Thursday and did not let go, finishing with a combined score of 15-under to win the 2026 World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by BFL CANADA at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont.
On a day that was tough to score the United States (U.S.) shot a collective round of even par to win by five shots over the defending champions from the Republic of Korea (-10 under) with Team Canada I finishing third at 7-under. The win gives the U.S. its second team title at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, having won the inaugural championship in 2014 and they become the third multi-time winners joining the Republic of Korea (2015, 2019, 2024, 2025) and Spain (2017, 2022).
“I was just so impressed and blown away by their composure. I think even today it’s tough representing your country and coming down to the last day and knowing that Canada and Korea, two really great programs are right on your heels, it’s tough to come out and still shoot a good round,” said U.S. coach Tiffany Joh.
The U.S. was led by Anna Fang of San Diego, Calif. who carded a 1-under 70 and Mia Clausen of Carlsbad, Calif. shot a 1-over 72 to count for the team on the day. Amelie Zalsman of St. Petersburg, Fla. closed with a 2-over 73. It marked the only rounds the U.S. had over par of the 12 played individually during the tournament.
“They stuck to their guns, they came out, maintained their composure and they played great, really solid so I’m super proud of them,” added Joh.
While the U.S. entered the day with a two-shot advantage on Team Canada I and three on Korea, Joh and the team kept things light following Friday’s round with a simple message.
“Hey can you pass the California rolls?” Joh said with a laugh.
“It was pretty low key and business as usual, there were no inspirational speeches or anything we kept doing what we always do. Dr. Beth [Brown] gave me a great quote ‘don’t make the game so big that you can’t play it’ so nothing changes just because it’s the last day of the tournament you keep doing what’s been working for you and that’s coming out and having fun and just playing solid golf and playing some golf,” she added.
Fang closed the tournament with a 7-under score to finish tied for third in the individual competition with Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. (Team Canada I). Fang’s scores counted in three of the four days.
“It means a lot, to do it with this team is such an honour and we had a fun time all week and I am glad we got it done,” said Fang.
Clausen echoed Fang’s comments, “means a lot, being with some of my best friends and representing the United States, it’s amazing.”
The win was especially meaningful for Zalsman who was competing in her final junior tournament.
“My goal this week was to have fun, and I think definitely a bonus winning, so doing it with this team, it’s been an incredible week. I definitely had the intention of coming out and winning just being my last and to go out with a good one.”
As for how the team plans to celebrate the win.
“We’re going to Tim Hortons! I’m going to get one of every donut and one of every timbit and we’re going to go nuts, we’re only in Canada once a year,” said Joh with a laugh.
England’s Lauren Crump closed strongly with a 1-under 70 to finish the tournament at 11-under and held off Seoah Kim of Korea by one to earn individual honours. Crump admitted there was a lot going through her mind once she knew she had won.
“I’ve come to this event the last two years and to finally be up there and win the medal is an amazing achievement for myself.”
Yesterday Crump commented on when her putting is working, her confidence grows and that was more of the same on Saturday as she picked her opportunities to attack.
“The pins were incredibly tough today, so I had the mindset of going for the ones that I needed to and stay conservative on any ones that were horrific. That was the plan. I holed some really nice putts in the middle of my round which kind of kept my momentum going.”
Crump credited a lengthy par putt on the par-3 11th as being a launching point on her closing holes. She added a birdie on No. 14 and closed with four straight pars and was forced to wait as Kim had two holes remaining.
The 14-year-old Kim came up just short on her final two holes with looks for birdie, rimming the cup on 17 and falling just left of the hole on 18, to close with a 1-under 70 and 10-under overall.
The win for Crump marks the second straight year a player from England has earned individual honours at the championship and Crump is proud to join Charlotte Naughton in earning the gold medal.
“Charlotte is one of my best friends, and I’ve played a lot of junior golf with her and to follow with her and see both of our pictures up there is incredible.”
With the win, Crump has earned an exemption into the 2027 CPKC Women’s Open, taking place at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., August 18-22. It will mark Crump’s second start on the LPGA Tour having competed in the AIG Women’s Open earlier this season.
“It’s great experience especially to play an LPGA event outside of the U.K. and abroad so I am really looking forward to it and so excited,” she added.
In total, 24 teams comprised of 72 players from 23 countries competed in Brampton for team and individual honours.
Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 14-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.
Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia, Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden and 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States.
To view the final leaderboards following the 2026 World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by BFL CANADA, please click here.