Minnesotans Johnson, Haskins and Larson Headed to U.S. Junior Amateur

  RAMSEY, Minn. – Just 24 hours after winning the Class AA individual title by four strokes at Ridges at Sand Creek Wednesday, 2026 Mr. Minnesota Golf finalist Henry Johnson carded three birdies over his final five holes Thursday to earn co-medalist honors with Ryder Haskins and a spot in the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur next month.

Johnson, Haskins and Chase Larson, who claimed the final spot following a three-hole playoff, will travel to Bethlehem, Pa., July 20-25 to compete at this year’s national championship at Saucon Valley Country Club.

“I’m really excited and I’m really proud that I was able to be co-medalist in a field like this,” Johnson said after his round Thursday. “The best juniors in the state and some others from other states.

“I’m just going to play my game in Pennsylvania and see how it stacks up.”

On Thursday, Johnson began his round with three birdies during his front nine before sinking his birdie chance from four feet at his 14th hole and followed it with a birdie from 15 feet on the ensuing hole.

Rolling in one final birdie from six feet at the last, Johnson punched his ticket to his first USGA championship next month.

Disappointed with his play for a portion of his senior season at Southwest Christian Academy, Johnson paced the field with a 5-under 67 during the opening round of the Class AA Championship Tuesday, and carded a 1-under 71 during the final round to earn a three-stroke victory to cap off his senior season.

“I haven’t played that well during the high school season, but this year I proved to myself that I can,” said Johnson, who will begin his freshman season at North Dakota State University this fall. “Committing to a school definitely took weight off my shoulders—playing more freely without worrying about what other coaches think about me.

“Got off to a hot start both days—eagled the first hole both rounds. My main goal was to stay aggressive because my coach gave me a good pep talk.”

Playing his first five holes in even par Thursday, Haskins got a big lift from his putter over the next five holes by carding two birdies and a pair of eagles to catapult up the leaderboard.

He dropped a 20-footer at the sixth and then a 35-footer at the eighth before knocking in a pair of eagle putts at the ninth and 10th holes to reach 6-under for the round.

“Putting has been a struggle this year,” said Haskins, who credited friend and caddie Quinn Opiola for his success on the putting surface Thursday. “I get him on the bag and start pouring them in. Maybe a second set of eyes or a fresh dose of belief to give you some confidence.

“I was just trying to have fun and stay aggressive today. One-day qualifiers you need to fire at every pin and make a lot of putts. To get the job done is really sweet.”

Consecutive pars to close out his round earned Haskins his first taste of a major national event.

“The whole experience—it seems like such a cool event, and I’ve heard from many golfers how special this event is,” Haskins said, looking forward. “To say you’re one of 264 guys to compete there just means so much to me.”

Starting fast with four birdies over his first five holes Thursday, Larson quickly moved into contention before a bogey at his sixth hole dropped him back to 3-under for the round.

He bounced back with a birdie at his 10th hole and converted one final birdie putt at the last to force extra holes with Chase Birdwell.

A birdie on the third playoff hole earned Larson a spot in his first USGA championship.

“Obviously, you want to qualify, and I feel like my game’s been close the whole year,” Larson said Thursday. “I didn’t have any expectations, but I knew it was going to be a grind with all the great players in the field, so I had to bring my best stuff.

“Qualifying means a lot because it’s the biggest tournament we’ve got as juniors. It’s going to be a lot of fun and show the best players in the country what I’ve got.”

Birdwell, a 2026 Mr. Minnesota Golf finalist and member of the inaugural Team Minnesota roster, finished as first alternate Thursday, while Colin Hastings, of Wayzata, Minn., finished as second alternate.

Saucon Valley Country Club will play host to its ninth USGA championship next month and host its second U.S. Junior Amateur, last contested in 1983 and won by Tim Straub.

Originally opened with the Old Course in 1922, Saucon Valley Country Club now features three championship courses (Grace Course and Weyhill Course), and most recently, hosted the 2022 U.S. Senior Open, won by Padraig Harrington.

The 1951 was the first USGA event held at Saucon Valley, followed by a U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Senior Amateur (1987), two U.S. Senior Opens (1992, 2000), the U.S. Women’s Open (2009) and the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

Designed by Herbert Strong, the par-71 Old Course can stretch to just beyond 7,000 yards.

Following a grueling 25-hole match to begin his first round, 17-year-old Hamilton Coleman, a native of Augusta, Ga., edged Vietnam’s Minh Nguyen, 2 and 1, at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.