TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 20th playing of The PING Invitational kicked off today at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. After an exciting round of play, Brayden Jones of Seal Beach, California, leads at five-under-par 67. The 2027 graduate and Arizona State University commit carded six birdies, highlighted by a streak of three consecutive birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 4. He is currently ranked No. 29 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Tied for third at 4-under-par 68 are Luke Swanson of Reno, Nevada, Aadi Parmar of Selma, Texas, and Tripp Hildreth of Las Vegas, Nevada. Swanson, the No. 106 player in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and a Santa Clara University commit, birdied the par-4 No. 18 to secure his spot atop the leaderboard. Parmar, ranked No. 19 and committed to Texas Tech University, played a bogey-free front nine before also closing with a birdie on No. 18. Hildreth, the No. 41 player in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and a 2029 graduate, carded six birdies during his opening-round 68.
Charlie Haney of Manhattan, Kansas, and Jonathan Ward of Waukee, Iowa, are tied for fifth place at 3-under-par 69, just two shots off from the lead.
The 20th PING Invitational brings together 72 of the world's top junior boys golfers for a 54-hole stroke-play championship at Seminole Legacy Golf Club in Tallahassee, Florida. Hosted by PING and the AJGA, the tournament enters its 20th year in 2026 and begins a new era as a boys-only championship.
Tournament History
The inaugural PING Invitational was held in 2006 and, over the past 20 years, has produced an impressive list of champions who have gone on to excel at the collegiate and professional levels. Jordan Spieth remains the only two-time Boys Division champion, capturing titles in 2008 and 2010. Other notable winners include PGA TOUR player Emiliano Grillo, Stanford standout Michael Thorbjornsen and University of Virginia star Ben James, a member of the 2023 U.S. Walker Cup Team.
The tournament's Girls Division also featured many of junior golf's most accomplished players. Rose Zhang, a two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year and LPGA Tour standout, became the division's first two-time champion with victories in 2018 and 2020. Gianna Clemente made history in 2021 as the youngest champion at 13 years, 6 months and 18 days old before successfully defending her title in 2022. Other distinguished Girls Division champions include Nelly Korda, Alison Lee and Patty Tavatanakit.
Past Champions:
2025 - Preston Hage and Honorine Ferry
2024 - Jackson Byrd and Asterisk Talley
2023 - Wheaton Ennis and Jasmine Koo
2022 - Jay Leng Jr and Gianna Clemente
2021 - Benjamin James and Gianna Clemente
2020 - Kelly Chinn and Rose Zhang
2019 - Event was canceled due to weather
2018 - Michael Thorbjornsen and Rose Zhang
2017 - Canon Claycomb and Lucy Li
2016 - Noah Norton and Paphangkorn Tavatanakit
2015 - Spencer Soosman and Nelly Korda
2014 - Donnie Trosper and Kaitlyn Papp
2013 - Brad Dalke and Megan Khang
2012 - Gavin Hall and Alison Lee
2011 - A.J. McInerney and Jaye Marie Green
2010 - Jordan Spieth and Kristen Park
2009 - Emiliano Grillo and Rachel Morris
2008 - Jordan Spieth and Victoria Tanco
2007 - Gregor Main and Vicky Hurst
2006 - Andrew Yun and Esther Choe
About PING
PING, a golf club manufacturer with the goal to help golfers play their best, has been an AJGA supporter since 1990 and began supporting the PING Phoenix Junior in 1991. The PING Invitational, one of the AJGA's top Invitationals held over Columbus Day weekend, began in 2006 at Karsten Creek. The PING Junior Solheim Cup, the all-girls match play biennial event, has received worldwide recognition and many participants are able to say they played for their country as a junior and professional.
An Official Partner since 2002, the golf club manufacturer sponsors PING College Golf Signing Day and became "The Official Bag of the AJGA" in 2009. In 2010, PING debuted golf bags for all AJGA champions. PING also became the AJGA's first Legacy Partner in 2020.
About the Course
Seminole Legacy Golf Club stands among the nation's premier collegiate golf venues. Reimagined by Nicklaus Design and located in Tallahassee, Florida, the championship layout serves as the home course for Florida State University’s acclaimed golf programs. Known for its exceptional conditioning, strategic design and tournament-ready setup, Seminole Legacy challenges players to balance power, precision and course management. The facility has established itself as a premier host site for collegiate and amateur competition, earning recognition as one of the top university golf complexes in the country. As the first host of The PING Invitational's new era at Seminole Legacy, the club provides an ideal setting for the world's top junior boys golfers to compete for one of the AJGA's most coveted titles.
Schedule
The second round will begin on Saturday, November 7th, with tee times from 8:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. off of Nos. 1 and 10.
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