New Champion for 2026 AJGA Girls Junior All-Star Championship
Visit Beloit welcomes the AJGA for a premier all-girls golf tournament
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 10, 2026
BELOIT, Wis. — Visit Beloit, in partnership with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), hosted the Girls Junior All-Star Championship from June 29 – July 2, 2026, at the 117-year-old Beloit Club in Beloit, Wisconsin, for the second year in a row.
The prestigious tournament attracted 77 golfers from 21 U.S. states – including Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington – as well as competitors from five countries: Argentina, Canada, China, Mexico, and United Kingdom.
Operated by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), the Girls Junior All-Star Championship is a premier event within the ANNIKA Foundation’s Pathway Series. It provided an opportunity for female golfers ages 12-15 to showcase their skills, with the champion earning an exemption to compete in the 2026 Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex in Alpharetta, Georgia, October 8-11.
Gabriella Collelo (class of 2029) of Venice, Florida, secured the exemption when she claimed the championship, finishing 8 under-par (71-70-67-208) to lock in her first AJGA victory.
Kennedy Kaus (2030) of Overland Park, Kansas, finished as the runner-up with a 3 under-par (73-73-67-213). Teresa Ho (2030) of San Ramon, California, finished 1 under-par (72-75-68-215), tied for third place with Joanna Shin (2031) of Yorba Linda, California (70-75-70-215). The top four finishers were the only athletes to finish under par in the tournament. The first two days saw temperatures exceeding 90 degrees and produced five rounds under par and six rounds under par, respectively. The final round brought mild temperatures, and eight players went under par. Collelo and Kaus topped the field by each producing five under rounds of 67 to cap the event.
“Visit Beloit was excited to partner with the AJGA to host these very talented young ladies,” said Matthew Bosen, Director of Sales & Servicing with Visit Beloit. “The three-day competition brought competitors from across the United States and beyond to compete at the Beloit Club and to experience our wonderful community. A huge thank you to our partners, as the event wouldn’t be possible without the support of local organizations and volunteers. We hope to welcome AJGA back to the Beloit Club again in 2027.”
To find more information, please visit https://visitbeloit.com/ajga/.
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About Visit Beloit
Visit Beloit, established in 1987, is greater Beloit’s official destination marketing organization (DMO). An accredited DMO through Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), Visit Beloit’s mission is to be greater Beloit’s tourism champion, using our expertise to generate positive economic impact and to create a vibrant community for residents and visitors. For information, visit www.visitbeloit.com.
About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 9,000 members from 50 states and 51 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Liberty National ACE Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.
About the ANNIKA Foundation
The ANNIKA Foundation aims to develop, empower, and advance young women around the world through golf and in life. More specifically, we provide opportunities in women’s golf at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of personal development, including living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition.
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