The Mayakoba Invitational is a brand new 54-hole stroke play all-boys invitational in 2023. El Camaleón Golf Course, which has hosted multiple elite professional events, welcomes the AJGA back for the first time since 2010. The field, comprised of 72 boys, will gather in Cancun, Mexico, from around the world. This is the first full-field AJGA invitational to be contested outside the United States.
About the Field
- 35 past champions
- 14 countries represented
- 18 states represented
- 8 players from Mexico
- 34 college commitments
- 12 Rolex Junior All-Americans
About the Course
El Camaleón Golf Course is located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, about 40 minutes outside of Cancun. El Camaleón was the first PGA TOUR golf course in Latin America. The PGA TOUR hosted The World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba from 2007 to 2022. Past champions of the event included AJGA alumni Viktor Hovland, and Matt Kuchar.
El Camaleón hosted an AJGA open event from 2007 to 2010, the Mayakoba Junior Golf Classic.
The 18-hole course plays at a par 72 and the boys field will compete at a distance of over 6,900 yards.
AJGA Champion Highlights
Of the 35 players who’ve won an AJGA event, a few highlights:
- Jay Leng Jr. of San Diego, California, took home his first AJGA Invitational win in 2022. The Stanford University commit came from behind to win after a four-hole playoff against Mexico native and fellow Mayakoba Invitational participant, Gerado Gomez.
- Nicholas Gross of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, is already an invitational champion in 2023. Gross won the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods in February, marking his first AJGA win since 2021.
- Dylan Bingwen Ma of (China) Jacksonville, Florida, is already an international AJGA champion in 2023. He won the first Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championship in January at Port Royal Golf Club.
9 of the Top-25 Players in the Rolex AJGA Rankings
5 Nicholas Gross
10 Henry Guan of Dallas, Texas
11 Jay Leng Jr.
17 Camden Smith of Sandy Springs, Georgia
18 Eduardo Derbez Torres of Monterrey, Mexico
20 Max Herendeen of Bellevue, Washington
21 Boston Bracken of St. George, Utah
22 Gerado Gomez of (Mexico) Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida
24 Kihei Akina of Kahuku, Utah
Future college teammates
As a part of the 34 total players committed to play college golf, five sets of future college teammates are in the field:
- University of Arkansas - Gerado Gomez and Rex Hargrove of Houston, Texas
- Stanford University - Jay Leng Jr. and Kush Arora of Pleasanton, California
- University of Georgia - Camden Smith and Matt Moloney of Daniel Island, South Carolina
- University of Louisville - Clay Pendergrass of Richmond, Kentucky, and Cooper Claycomb of Orlando, Florida
- Rice University - Reggie Zhu of Winter Garden, Florida, and Braeden Hoyt of Houston, Texas
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About Mayakoba
Nestled in the Mexican Riviera Maya, Mayakoba is a 620-acre resort and residential destination surrounded by the natural beauty of lagoons, jungle, tranquil waters and a sugar sand beach. Four meaningfully placed luxury hotels can be found within Mayakoba - Andaz Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont Mayakoba and Rosewood Mayakoba - each with distinct personalities and amenities, perfectly complementing one another, and three collections of private residences, including Rosewood Residences Mayakoba, Fairmont Heritage Place Mayakoba, and The Reserve at Mayakoba.
Within the coveted destination are a wealth of lifestyle experiences including four acclaimed spas, more than 25 restaurants with eclectic cuisines and a village square that serves as an event space modeled after the historic colonial plazas in Mexico. In addition, guests have access to a three-mile-long nature trail and spectacular 18-hole golf course designed by renowned architect and PGA TOUR legend Greg Norman, which is home to the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, first PGA TOUR tournament in Mexico.
About El Camaleón
Designed by legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman, El Camaleón at Mayakoba was inaugurated in 2006. Like the chameleon, from which it takes its name, the course offers constantly changing views as it winds through three diverse ecosystems: the tropical Mayan jungle, mangrove wetlands and the Mexican Caribbean Sea coastline. Distinctive hazards such as cenotes (sink holes), extensive bunkers and crystal-clear fresh water canals are unique features of El Camaleón, certified by Audubon International for its commitment to the environment.
El Camaleón is also home of the only Jim McLean Golf School in Mexico and one of the top Golf Schools in America. The finest technology featuring Trackman, JC Video Analysis and other golf technology, allow instructors not just to learn, but to improve your game as much as you want. Also, its restaurant Koba Casa Club will give you the final touch to an unforgettable day of golf with spectacular views of the finishing hole, and fine dining based on fresh, local and high-quality products.