The American Junior Golf Association and the United States Golf Association (USGA) are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2025 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 and philanthropy.
The finalists for the 2025 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award are:
Girls
Andie Greenberg of Bethesda, Maryland (2027)
Greenberg has contributed over 185 hours of community service through disability awareness initiatives. As a peer buddy with the Best Buddies program, she participates in bi-monthly meetings and social outings with her buddy, deepening her understanding of inclusion. She also spent 100 hours with the Nora Project, creating a documentary to share the story of her peer buddy. Greenberg’s volunteerism includes 25 hours at Daniel’s Music Foundation, helping organize performances and raising awareness about disabilities through music. In 2025, she served as a walking scorer at the U.S. Adaptive Open, aligning her passion for golf and advocacy for inclusion.
Taylor Underhill of Gilbert, Arizona (2028)
Underhill has been a leader in her local Girls Golf of Phoenix program since 2019, mentoring more than 300 members each year. She volunteers at practices, tournaments and LPGA events, helping teach the game to adults with diverse needs. Taylor also supports the First Tee ACE program and completed the Girls Golf eLeader program to build leadership and professional skills. Younger players look up to Taylor for her kindness and encouragement, and she is known for always making others feel included.
Boys
Liam Lodding of Huntley, Illinois (2026)
After being diagnosed with Myocarditis, Lodding turned to fundraising while sidelined from competitive sports. Over the last two years, he has raised more than $40,000 for the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and the Liberty National ACE Grant. Through creative campaigns, such as email marketing and a school raffle. Lodding has raised awareness and resources for junior golfers in need. For 2025, he’s set a personal goal of raising $77,000 and continues to inspire his community through a message of hope and service.
Cole Durham of Miami, Florida (2029)
Motivated by his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, Durham raised more than $39,000 for the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Liberty National ACE Grant by launching a school-wide fundraiser that included selling 137 custom hats. Outside of golf, Durham plays an important leadership role at his school as an advisory student, guiding over 200 prospective students through tours and mentorship programs. His efforts have helped new students feel welcomed and supported, and his dedication to service continues to leave a lasting impact in his community.
Jack Talarico of Austin, Texas (2026)
Talarico is the founder of the Divots Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and financial support to junior golfers across Texas. As a 2024 Texas Cup - Austin host and participant, Talarico has helped raise $31,000 to support junior golf. In addition to his foundation work, he has volunteered with Yellow Bike to distribute bicycles to underserved children, with the Central Texas Food Bank to pack and deliver food, and with the Haiti Club to support education for underprivileged students. His leadership has inspired others to get involved, including board members impressed by his initiative.
About the USGA
The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. The USGA also manages day-to-day operations for the U.S. National Development Program, the country's first unified pathway for American talent, and the World Golf Hall of Fame, preserving and celebrating the legacies of the game’s greatest figures. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. For more, visit usga.org.