Miles Russell and Asterisk Talley Become First Repeat Champions at Junior Invitational at Sage Valley

Miles Russell closed the 2026 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley with a 5-under 67 that included two eagles, finishing at 15-under to win by three shots and successfully defend the title he won in 2025. The victory made Russell the first two-time boys champion in the event's history. Russell trailed by three shots entering the final round and steadily worked his way up the leaderboard, crediting a shot-by-shot, even-keeled mindset for the comeback.

Asterisk Talley matched Russell's final-round 67, her low round of the week, to finish at 8-under and win by three shots for her second Sage Valley title after also winning in 2024. A birdie at the par-3 16th proved decisive down the stretch as Talley closed out the win without needing to watch the rest of the leaderboard.

The Junior Invitational at Sage Valley remains one of the most selective events on the junior calendar, with an invitation-only field of 36 boys and 24 girls competing over 72 holes at Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, South Carolina. Past champions on the boys side include Scottie Scheffler, Joaquin Niemann, and Akshay Bhatia.