The American Junior Golf Association and the United States Golf Association are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2023 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award.
The USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award was created to recognize one male and one female junior golfer who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program – a joint initiative founded by the USGA and AJGA in 2005 to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism.
The finalists for the 2023 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award are:
Girls
Angelina Huang of Las Vegas, Nevada (2024)
In 2021, Huang published a book titled, "I Want to Play College Golf" after she and her sister found little information regarding the process to play golf collegiately. They conducted research on the recruitment process and put together their findings into this book. Huang has donated over $17,000 in book proceeds back to her community, including $9,000 to the AJGA's Amundi Evian Senior Showcase. Huang also founded a nonprofit, Dentistry for Kidz Org, to build oral health awareness amongst kids and she volunteers with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Darrelyn Webster of Austin, Texas (2023)
As a Texas State Cup participant for the past two years, Webster raised almost $15,000 for the event. The money raised for the tournament benefits the AJGA's Liberty National ACE Grant Program and CapCityKids, a nonprofit that helps provide quality education to children who are facing homelessness. Webster is an active member within the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization where she helps lead and encourage other athletes. Earlier this year, Webster also had the opportunity to serve on a mission trip with her church in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously, Webster had been named a finalist for this award in 2022.
Gwendolyn Powell of Madison Township, Pennsylvania (2024)
Recipient of the 2023 EMPOWER Teen Scholarship and AJGA Leadership Links participant, Powell chose to dedicate her golf game to making a philanthropic impact. She has raised over $11,000 and gives back to her local YMCA diabetes program. Powell is the co-founder of an organization that started in the fall of 2022 named, Overtime Crew. This club provides the students of North Pocono High School with an opportunity to help make the surrounding community and school district look clean and presentable.
Kylie McGrath of Renton, Washington (2024)
As the host to this year's inaugural 2023 Washington Cup and AJGA Leadership Links participant since 2020, McGrath has raised over $13,000 to benefit the First Tee - Greater Seatle and the AJGA's Liberty National ACE Grant. McGrath has been an active member of the First Tee - Greater Seattle since 2013 and holds a position on their Junior Advisory Board. Through this position, McGrath helps plan, organize and operate their seasonal equipment sales that raise more than $20,000 a year. Due to COVID-19 McGrath's plans for the Washington Cup were put on pause, however, this October, McGrath will bring together 24 junior golfers to participate in and raise funds for the event.
Lucy Wang of Concord, Massachusetts (2025)
Wang has overcome much adversity and uses golf as a way to give back and help others. Joining the AJGA's Leadership Links program just last year, Wang has already raised over $18,000 to benefit the Jack Nicklaus Children Hospital Foundation and Liberty National ACE Grant. Wang is part of an organization named Greens for Dreams. This organization runs golf tournaments to raise money for Boston Children's Hospital and Wang serves as a youth volunteer and coach for the organization. Wang also tutors students' Chinese, through this she has raised $20,000 and donated to the school's golf team in an effort to support the school's sports program.
Nicole Iniakov of Prunedale, California (2025)
Recipient of the 2022 Jerry Cole Sportsmanship Award and host to the inaugural 2023 California Cup, Iniakov strives to make an impact in her community and beyond. Her golf journey began at the First Tee, which is also where Iniakov serves as a junior coach and mentor. At the First Tee of Monterey County, she participated in two fundraising tournaments where they raised over $10,000. Through the 2023 California Cup, Inakov was able to raise more than $35,000 for the Pebble Beach Foundation and Liberty National ACE Grant program.
Sahana Mantha of Charlotte, North Carolina (2025)
Mantha and her sister co-founded a nonprofit called Foundation For Girls (FFG). This organization equips women with the resources, relationships and recommendations to achieve economic mobility. Through FFG, Mantha has learned the power of patience, perseverance and community. All are things that have helped her grow as a person and golfer. FFG has helped support over 2,500 young women and children throughout the past nine years and has raised over $300,000 from corporate grants since 2016.
Sarah Mingwei Sun of (Canada) Richmond Hill, Ontario (2026)
With a passion to help make golf more financially accessible, Sun co-founded the China International and Bilingual Schools Team. Founded at the beginning of 2023, this is the first golf fundraising team that has been founded by only juniors in China. The team has already raised more than $13,000 through AJGA's Leadership Links program and Sun continues to encourage other junior golfers across China to get involved in the program.
Boys
Charlie Palmer of Phoenix, Arizona (2023)
Palmer is passionate about the positive impact that junior golfers can have on their peers and the community. He was a top fundraiser for the inaugural Arizona Cactus Cup held in December of 2022 and raised nearly $4,000. His philanthropic efforts have helped raised over $10,00 for junior golf programs in the last four years, including the AJGA, JGAA, First Tee of Pheonix, Youth on Course and his high school golf team. Palmer was also named an Honorable Mention for this award in 2021 for the funds he raised during the 2020/2021 season.
Jai Chachra of Los Angeles, California (2024)
Through Chachra's golf aspirations and desire to give back to the community, he founded Inspiring Tides Foundation. This organization encourages young people with the financial means to recognize their potential to be agents of change, to which Chachra has committed over $100,000 of his personal portfolio to it. Chachra's efforts were inspired by a community leader, Ms. Charmane Bayton, who runs her own nonprofit called Charmaney's Place of Refuge Resource Center, an organization he supports and volunteers with.
Mack Edwards of Charlotte, North Carolina (2025)
Edwards aims to make a path for fellow junior golfers to follow. He co-hosted the Carolina Cup in 2021 and 2022 with plans to co-host again in 2023. Throughout his three years with the Carolina Cup, Edwards has helped raise over $135,000 for the Liberty National ACE Grant, HV3 Foundation and Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation. Edwards hopes to encourage others around him to raise funds for these incredible causes.
Patrick Pritsios of Alexandria, Virginia (2024)
As a participant in the DC Metro Cup in 2022, Pritios raised over $2,000 for the event. Pritsios also worked to bring the Travis Manion Foundation to Gonzaga College High School. This foundation helps wounded veterans and families of the fallen. As President of the club, Pritios has been involved with the organization for three years. Through the Yellow Ribbon Fund, Pritios also invites veterans to play a round of golf with him at his home course.
Zachary Munno of Stamford, Connecticut (2024)
Munno is an active member of his community. As host to the Metro Cup (Bridge) and Metro Cup (Stanwich) from 2020 to 2022, Munno has helped raised a total of $240,000 throughout the years. The funds raised from these State Cup events help support The Bridge Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich and the Met PGA Junior Foundation. Munno also works with the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich to help students have access to golf instruction at his home course.