The Team Northern California Committee today announced the 10 boys and 10 girls who were named to the 2026 Team Northern California roster as part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program (USNDP).
The roster was selected by the Team Northern California committee based on players’ performances throughout the 2025 season.
“Our goal with Team Northern California is to inspire the next generation of golfers by giving every young athlete the tools to reach their full potential,” said NCGA Director of Junior Golf Haley Whitbeck. “This program represents the NCGA’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent. By combining expert coaching, innovative training methods, and a fun, supportive environment, we’re excited to be creating a pathway for young golfers to grow from competitive players to elite athletes.”
Team Northern California is one of 30 states in the USNDP’s State Junior Team program – designed to expand, strengthen and diversify the American junior golf pipeline. The USGA announced 14 new states to the program in October of 2025, with goals to expand to all 50 states by 2033.
2026 Team Northern California – Boys Roster
| Name | Hometown | Graduation Class |
| Richard Ding | Pleasanton | 2029 |
| Ayden Fynaut | Fresno | 2026 |
| Cooper Westphal | El Dorado Hills | 2029 |
| Braden Cales | Roseville | 2026 |
| Kailer Stone | Alameda | 2026 |
| Blake Whittington | Rocklin | 2027 |
| Luke Harrison | Sacramento | 2027 |
| Cooper Mapes | Pleasanton | 2026 |
| Jacob Watney | Clovis | 2027 |
| William Chang | Danville | 2026 |
2026 Team Northern California – Girls Roster
| Name | Hometown | Graduation Class |
| Madalyn Lee | Santa Clara | 2027 |
| Caroline Gao | Milpitas | 2029 |
| Victoria Cui | Atherton | 2028 |
| Erin Lee | San Ramon | 2028 |
| Hazel Hooper | Pacifica | 2030 |
| Hayley Fong | Hayward | 2028 |
| Kelly O’Keefe | Lodi | 2028 |
| Ashley Gettleman | Scotts Valley| 2026 |
| Emma Wang | Palo Alto | 2027 |
| Cathy Zhang | San Ramon | 2027 |
The Captain for the Northern California team will be NCGA Hall of Fame member Pat Hurst. A native of San Leandro, Calif., Hurst first gained national attention when she won the 1986 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the age of 17.
A two-time First Team All-American at San Jose State and winner of the 1990 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Hurst in 1995 earned Rookie of the Year honors on the LPGA Tour. She’d go on to win six LPGA titles, including one major, the 1998 Nabisco Dinah Shore and competed on five Solheim Cup teams.
“I want to thank the NCGA for this great opportunity to be able to give back to the game that has given me so much,” Hurst said. “I’m thrilled to work with many of the top junior golfers in Northern California to elevate their games. This group represents not only extraordinary potential, but the future of the sport. I’m looking forward to being their Captain and to support their development as great people and players.”
The Coach of the team is Chelso Barrett. A Class A PGA Professional, TPI Certified, and TrackMan Certified Instructor, Barrett currently serves as the Director of Instruction at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif. where he leads all facets of player development, programming and instructional operations. Barrett competed professionally on PGA Tour Canada and was honored as the 2025 Northern California PGA Player of the Year. As an amateur Barrett has competed in numerous USGA Championships, reaching the Round of 16 in the U.S. Amateur and finishing runner up in the 2011 U.S. Boys’ Junior to Jordan Spieth.
“I’m incredibly excited to work with the very best junior golfers in Northern California. These young athletes represent not only exceptional talent, but also the future of the game,” Barrett said. “I look forward to helping them grow into well-rounded players and individuals, instilling values that will serve them both on and off the course. Collaborating with the USGA and the NCGA team to provide a pathway for these juniors to reach the next level is truly an honor.”
All athletes named to a state team will receive at least two days of in-person athlete development per year, access to webinars led by the USNDP’s coaching and athlete development team, consideration for USNDP sponsored tournament exemptions and a streamlined grant application process for families demonstrating financial need, among other benefits.
Announced in 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations, and financial support.
The State Junior Team Program focuses on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game. The U.S. National Development Program is supported by philanthropic giving and secured resources to fulfill the USGA’s commitment to providing pathways to elite levels of the game, regardless of financial situations.
To be eligible, a player must be a U.S. citizen, cannot be enrolled in college, must be 13 years old by Jan. 1 and not reach his/her 19th birthday by July 19 of the year in which they would compete on a State Junior Team.
About The USNDP
The mission of the U.S. National Development Program is to foster future generations of American golf talent. The USNDP provides a pathway to success in golf by delivering competitive opportunities, support, and training that develops American golf talent and mitigates financial burdens. With our key strategic partners, host venues, and champions, we provide education, experiences, and mentorship that help athletes achieve success at each level. We are committed to fostering a positive and healthy pathway for American golfers to follow their dreams and reach the pinnacle of the sport. For more info, visit usga.org.