With Championship season underway, it is time for junior golfers to get in on the action. The 2026 U19 Championship begins tomorrow at The Coyote Golf Club, with competitors set to tee off in a double crossover format at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. This event is huge for junior golfers to display their skills to other competitors as well as post-secondary programs.Â
Here’s everything you need to know about the event, the players, and the course, before the first round begins.
The Event
This tournament has roots dating back to 1932 for the Junior Girls Championship and 1934 for the Junior Boys Championship which displays a long-standing tradition of showcasing emerging talent in Alberta. For many players, this tournament acts as an opportunity to showcase their skills as Alberta’s next generation of competitive golfers.
Open to male and female golfers under the age of 19 with a Handicap Index under 25 for the boys and 30 for the girls. The championship contains 36 holes of stroke play with a cut on the boys side to the top 60 players for the final round. While players are looking to be crowned the U19 Champion within their division, they are also playing for Team Alberta Spots at the Canadian Junior Boys and the Canadian Junior Girls Championships. The top 3 finishers in both the girls and boys divisions will be awarded these team spots.
The Players
The U19 Championship attracts top junior golfers from across Alberta setting up a high level of competition.
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Past U19 Champions in the Field
- Saylar May – 2025 Champion, 2024 & 2025 U17 Girls Champion, 3rd 2026 Women’s Amateur
There are no returning boys champions, leaving it open to crown a new champion.
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Other Notable Names and Winners
- Camilla Ruesga-Rojas – 2024 U13 Champion, 10th 2026 Women’s Amateur
- Sela Ogada – 2024 U15 Champion, Top 40 at 2025 Canadian Juniors, T12 2026 Women’s Amateur
- Raylee Denton – 2026 North Pacific Team, T15 2026 Women’s Amateur
- Coryn Tardif – 6th 2026 Women’s Amateur
- Oscar Gosgnach – 2024 & 2025 Boys’ U13 Champion
- Bennett Love – 2025 U15 Champion
- Chase Strang – 2025 U17 Champion, T9 2026 Men’s Amateur
- Benson White – 2025 Alberta Open Low Amateur (Youngest Low Amateur in Alberta Open History)
The Course
The Coyote Golf Club, located Sundre, is one of the most scenic courses in the province featuring a championship layout designed by renowned architect Gary Browning. They are experienced hosts for provincial events, most recently hosting the Alberta Mid-Amateur qualifier and the 2023 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship. Hosting this championship is something the Coyote is excited for and proud of as they move forward under new ownership.
Take a deeper look at the course and what players will face this week in the full championship and course preview written by Gord Montgomery for the 2026 Alberta Golf Yearbook.