Just two months after Grace Kim hoisted her first major trophy at The Amundi Evian Championship, the prestigious Evian Resort Golf Club welcomed 80 of the top junior golfers from around the world for the 2025 Amundi Evian Juniors Cup.

The tournament featured 20 countries, each represented by two boys and two girls. All eyes were on the United States Team as they entered the week aiming to defend their 2024 title. This year’s squad was led by two of the nation’s top junior girls – California’s Kelly Zhang and Caroline Gao, ranked No. 75 and No. 200, respectively, in the Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings. Virginia’s Ryan Hooker and California’s Kai Molina rounded out the team.

Hooker is no stranger to the junior golf stage, having competed in the 2021 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, helping lead his team to the PGA Jr. League Finals and capturing his first AJGA title at the 2025 Northern Neck Junior All-Star at Indian Creek. Molina, who showed his resilience by battling back from a neck injury earlier this year, tied for fourth in the Underrated Tour’s season opener.

Claiming the lead right out of the gate in round one, the Americans set the pace, while South Korea and Japan lurked just two strokes behind. In the Girls Division, Gao and Zhang got off to a strong start, sitting at T3 and T5 after carding an even-par 71 and a 1-over 72, respectively. Matching their success, Hooker birdied his final hole, his fourth of the round, to find himself alone in third in the Boys Division.

Though they held the lead after round one, the Americans knew focus would be essential to secure their third consecutive title over the next 36 holes. Molina clawed his way up the leaderboard with a 2-over 73 in round two, finishing just two shots behind Hooker, who carded an even-par 71.

Zhang bettered her opening round with a 2-under 69, moving up two spots, while Gao stayed close behind with another even-par 71. By day’s end, Team USA held an 8-stroke advantage in the Nations Cup heading into the final round.

Playing steady and in sync, Zhang and Gao combined for seven birdies in the final round and both carded even-par 71s to close out the week in France. Zhang finished third after narrowly missing a scorecard playoff for second, with a tournament total of 1-under 212, while Gao placed fourth at even-par 213.

“The pride of wearing the USA logo on my clothing, pushing my teammates’ carts, and cheering for each other made this event unforgettable,” said Gao. “It reminded me that golf can feel like an individual sport, but friendships and team spirit are what truly stay with you.”

Hooker capped off his week with a 3-over 74, securing third place via a scorecard playoff in the Boys Division after finishing with a three-day total of 4-over. Though Molina struggled to find his rhythm, he battled across 54 holes to post scores of 81-73-78 for a 232 total. Together, the United States Team finished at 3-over and defeated runner-up Spain by seven shots. Japan claimed third place.

The American team was led by Coach Lauren Golden and Captain Laura Diaz, both from the LPGA Foundation. Golden, an LPGA Professional, serves as Senior Coordinator for the Foundation, and Diaz is the Senior Director of Learning and Inclusion at the LPGA.

“The first question every player asked when I met them on the course was, ‘How is the team doing?’” recalled Golden. “They were not only some of the most talented junior athletes I’ve had the honor of working with, but they also demonstrated outstanding teamwork, empathy and pride in both their team and their craft.”

Diaz echoed the sentiment, adding, “Watching our juniors compete alongside players from around the world was a powerful reminder of how golf can bring people together across cultures, languages and backgrounds, and it’s clear these junior golfers have a very bright future ahead.”

Beyond the competition, the United States Team also enjoyed generous support from sponsors. PING provided golf bags and umbrellas; Titleist supplied golf balls and gloves; FootJoy outfitted the team with shoes; and apparel came from Antigua, A. Putnam, Zero Restriction, Levelwear, Del Campo and Imperial.

Between the breathtaking venue, thoughtful gifting, fierce competition, and unmatched camaraderie, the week created memories that will last a lifetime for these young athletes.

“I am extremely lucky,” Zhang said of her experience. “My dad always said, ‘What you say eventually comes true.’ I’m just so grateful and honored to play. I think coming into things with a smile and a positive attitude led to our success.”

United States Claims Third Consecutive Win at 17th Amundi Evian Junior Cup

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