Junior Tour Alum Noah Kent Shines at the 124th U.S. Amateur

CHASKA, Minn. - South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alum Noah Kent’s remarkable run at the 124th U.S. Amateur came up just short, falling to Jose Luis Ballester on the 36th hole at Hazeltine National Golf Club. 


A rising Sophomore at the University of Iowa, Kent's remarkable performance this week is a testament to both his current skill and the strong foundation he built during his time on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. Son of South Florida PGA Member David Kent, PGA General Manager at The Club at Crown Colony, Kent grew up in Naples and began his journey with the SFPGA in 2015 as part of the South Florida PGA Team Golf program.


As a member on the SFPGA Junior Tour, Kent won the prestigious Patty Berg Championship in 2020 and was the individual champion at the 2021 SFPGA High School Championship before going on to compete for the Hawkeyes. 


To begin the week at Hazeltine, Kent opened the stroke play portion of the event with a 77, before he bounced back with a 64 to finish in a tie for 32nd, advancing to the round of 64 to compete in match play. 


Noah went on to defeat Xihuan Chang 4 and 2 to advance to the round of 32, where he beat Tom Fischer 2 and 1. Noah then beat Garrett Engle 4 and 2 before facing Ethan Fang in the quarterfinals, winning 3 and 2. Yesterday, Kent capped his storybook run with a birdie on the 18th hole to beat Jackson Buchanan 2 up on the final hole.


Kent’s final match against Jose Luis Ballester, a rising senior at Arizona State University, was challenging, with Ballester taking an early lead. The 19-year-old Kent stayed steady, carding pars on the first three holes. His birdie on the fourth hole put him back in contention, but Ballester responded with a birdie at the 8th hole and took a 4-up lead after the first 18 holes. 


However, like he did all week, Kent never wavered and continued to fight hard during the second 18 holes. Kent, who never closed the gap closer than two down, won three of five holes during the second back nine stretch before carding a par to Ballester's bogey on the 34th hole to narrow the gap to one down. The two exchanged pars on the 35th hole before Ballester closed out the championship on the 36th hole.


With his performance, Kent will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and will receive an invitation to the 2025 Masters Tournament.


Leaderboard


Share this story

By Chance Bressler July 17, 2025
ATLANTIS, FL - Yuanzhou Ye and Jayden Loyacona won the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, played July 16-17 at Lost City Golf Club.
By Caitlin White July 12, 2025
The 2025 Brendan Cunningham Junior Open concluded today with standout performances and a heartfelt tribute to a cherished figure in South Florida golf. Held at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club in Naples, Florida, the event welcomed 71 players. While taking a year off in 2024, the tournament returned this year.
July 3, 2025
Hampton Beebe, a West Palm Beach native and current junior at Score Academy, has quietly become one of the brightest rising stars in junior golf. With a strong résumé that includes a verbal commitment to Auburn University, multiple tournament wins, and national rankings of No. 140 on the Junior Golf Scoreboard and No. 63 by AJGA, Beebe is putting together a career built on consistency, passion, and the unrelenting desire to improve.
By Caitlin White June 25, 2025
Jupiter, FL — The Bear’s Club and Tequesta Country Club hosted the 41st Nicklaus Junior Championship, held Monday and Tuesday, welcoming a field of 160 junior golfers.
June 18, 2025
Boca Raton, FL – June 18th – The South Florida PGA Junior Tour staged its third major of the season, welcoming 80 junior golfers for the Junior PGA Championship, held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club. The major belonged to Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton and Eva Lye of Naples, who each turned in championship performances to win titles in the Boys' and Girls' 13-18 divisions.
June 10, 2025
Palm City, FL - Gabriel Holtz and Michelle Lu won the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, played June 7-8 at Hammock Creek Golf Club.
June 5, 2025
Drawn to the game of golf, Sabrina Fonda began her competitive journey in 2009 when she joined the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. Over the next decade, she competed alongside her younger sister, Jenna, while dedicating herself to developing her own skills and passion for the sport. In 2020, Sabrina graduated from the Junior Tour and went on to play collegiate golf at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. While at Winthrop, Sabrina was a consistent contributor on the Eagles’ roster, competing in countless events during her four years of eligibility. Fonda, a Wellington, Florida native, logged thirty-six collegiate rounds with a scoring average of 80 and a career-low round of 75. During her junior golf career, Sabrina played in 83 SFPGA events, but when asked which event stood out the most, her answer was immediate: the 2012 tournament at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. “It was such a special place,” she recalled. “Having my family and friends at the resort made it feel like more than just a tournament—it was a full experience.” Despite years of competition, Sabrina says her most meaningful memories aren’t defined by scorecards but by the friendships and camaraderie she built along the way. “Playing alongside my sister and my high school teammates made it competitive but so much fun,” she said. Looking back, Sabrina attributes many of her life skills—perspective, integrity, discipline, and patience—to her junior golf experience. These values, she explains, became even more critical in college, where time management and self-discipline became essential. “In college, you have your team, but at the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to show up, put in the work at practice, and stay on top of your assignments,” she said. “Junior golf teaches you those lessons without you even realizing it—the structure, the integrity, the personal accountability—it all carries into your life after golf.” Today, Sabrina works in commercial banking at EverBank as an Associate Commercial Relationship Manager. While she didn’t pursue a career in the golf industry, Sabrina says the habits and mindset she developed through years of competition now help her manage clients, deadlines, and challenges with confidence. “Golf taught me discipline and how to stay composed under pressure,” she reflected. “There were times I’d be so hard on myself for a missed shot, but now I realize those moments were small in the grand scheme of things. That perspective helps me even today—whether I’m on a golf course or in the office.” Sabrina’s story is a testament to the lasting impact of junior golf—not just in shaping athletes but in preparing individuals for success far beyond the course. Her journey reflects the core values of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, and we’re proud to count her among our alums. Whether navigating a round of golf or a professional career, Sabrina continues to embody the discipline, integrity, and perspective the game instilled in her from the very beginning. Sabrina Fonda | LinkedIn Sabrina Fonda | Winthrop University Share your story with us! Links to Legacy | Alumni Form
By Brianna Alonso May 27, 2025
(Fort Myers, FL - May 26th) – The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour administered its second major of the year, the Patty Berg Junior Championship at Kelly Greens Golf and Country Club, May 24-26, welcoming 79 junior golfers.
May 11, 2025
Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Cameron Kuchar claims the boys division by five shots as Mila Zalsman captures the girls division after a three-hole playoff at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, played Saturday and Sunday at PGA National - Fazio Course. Cameron Kuchar, a 2026 graduate from Harrison, ID, fired a first-round score of 3-under par, one shot behind Palm Beach Gardens resident Maximillian Mieschke. Kuchar carded a steady even-par final round to claim his first victory on the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour with a score of 69-72-141 Mieschke placed runner-up with a two-round total of 68-78-146, while Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton and Charlie Woods of Palm Beach Gardens finished in a tie for third at 3-over. After 36-holes, Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach and Mila Zalsman of Saint Petersburg were tied at 7-over, both carding rounds of 77-74–151. The two headed back on the course for a sudden death playoff that saw Zalsman, a 2029 graduate, ultimately came out on top with a par on the third playoff hole. Roisin Scanlon of Atlanta, GA, Jensi Krampel of Estero, and Lilly Riegger of Fort Lauderdale, finished a tie for third at 9-over. Saturday’s opening round also served as a qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, with 18 boys and six girls qualifying for the Championship, which will be held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club. Boys: Cameron Kuchar, Henry Crowe, Jose Carlos Lopez-Lay, Charlie Woods, Luke Leonard, Martin Bustos, Chris Nana Tanke, Patrick O’Connor, Ryder Kenney, Gavin Duffy, Andrew Stein, Alfonso Goyenenche, Leo Graham, Nicholas Zaccagnino, Weston Mead, Jack Davidson, Borja Friend, and Tristan Rodenizer. Girls: Amelie Phung, Ella Hrbata, Lilly Riegger, Lilly Parker, Mia Zalsman, Sarah Earle. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour season will continue May 24th - 26th at Kelly Greens Country Club for our Patty Berg Junior Championship.
April 28, 2025
Boynton Beach, Fl - Angela Nip and Ryan Nana Tanke card multiple under-par rounds to win the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, played Saturday and Sunday at Indian Spring Country Club - West Course. A Port St. Lucie resident and 2026 graduate, Angela Nip set herself ahead of her competition during round one with an 8-under par 63, the tournament low-round for both boys and girls. Nip started her round with a birdie and continued on to finish bogey-free, which also included an eagle on the par-5, tenth hole. Zoe Shamy of Jupiter, a 2025 graduate, nearly closed the gap on Sunday, with a 5-under 66, but a 2-under final round by Nip was enough to claim the girls division by three shots. Ella Hrbata, a 2029 graduate and West Palm Beach Resident, also finished under par and in third place at 2-under. Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens entered the final round one shot behind William Richards of Miami after both fired opening rounds under par. With a birdie to start the final round, Nana Tanke, a 2028 graduate, carded the tournament low round in the boys division with a 5-under 66, to win the boys division by one shot over Richards. This victory marks Nana Tanke’s second of the year, adding to his win at the SFPGA Winter Kickoff in January. In a tie for third were four players at 3-under: Carter Brooks (Coral Springs), Trevor Tingle (Coral Gables), Maximilian Mieschke (Palm Beach Gardens), and Liam Ly (Delray Beach). Saturday’s opening round also served as a qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, with twelve boys and six girls qualifying for the Championship, which will be held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club. Boys: William Richards, Ryan Nana Tanke, Liam Ly, Trevor Tingle, Tucker Cullinan, Nicolas Sanchez, Carter Brooks, Ryan Toole, Kalani Centeno, Matthew Hernandez, Ryan Nieto, and Jack McCue IV. Girls: Angela Nip, Zoe Shamy, Eva Lye, Jaime Baker, Stella Ronja Lind, and Micaela Ruidias. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour season will continue May 10th - 11th at PGA National Resort on the Fazio Course. Leaderboard