Players to Watch: LPGA-USGA Girls Golf National Championship | LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association

In 1989, Sandy LaBauve started a grassroots junior golf program in Phoenix that later blossomed into LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. Now, 35 years later, that program is making history once again by hosting the inaugural LPGA*USGA Girls Golf National Championship presented by Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour.I

This prestigious event gathers 144 talented players across three divisions at the world-renowned Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, promising thrilling competition among the future stars of women’s golf.

Let’s dive into some standout contenders to be on the lookout for at the National Championship.

Bell National Division

Riley Grimm

The first player to keep an eye on at the National Championship is Riley Grimm. Grimm is a member of the 2028 graduation class and is from Pinehurst, N.C. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour (PKBGT) Performance Index, and Grimm is no stranger to the national stage either, as she not only competed in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, but she finished second in the Girls 14-15 division.

Grimm has proven that she is consistent and can overcome any challenge she may face. Recently, Grimm finished 10th at the American Junior Golf Association’s TaylorMade TP5 Junior All-Star, shooting rounds of 77-74-73 over the course of the tournament. She also finished tied for sixth at the HV3 Foundation Junior Open, in which she shot 73-71-73 throughout the tournament.

Grimm first became interested in golf through her father, as the two played often when she was young. When golfing now, she enjoys playing with her sister and friends. Grimm considers the most difficult aspect of the game to be mental, rather than physical. She believes that the hardest part of golf is being able to move forward and forget about the bad shots or holes you may have during a round. Despite the challenges the game may present, Grimm has managed to overcome them and excel in the sport via her positive attitude and sportsmanship.

Macie Rasmussen

Macie Rasmussen, from Chesapeake, Va., is a standout member of the 2027 graduating class and the highest-ranked player in the field in the Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) Rankings at No. 135. She is also No. 97 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings. With a dream of making it to the LPGA Tour, Rasmussen finds inspiration in none other than Nelly Korda, one of the world’s best players who has earned 14 victories on the LPGA Tour.

Rasmussen’s career is already filled with remarkable achievements, including five top-10 finishes in national competitions. So far this year, she has finished third in The Lanto Junior Championship, ninth in the Scott Robertson Memorial, sixth in the Visit Goldsboro NC Junior Championship and runner-up in the TaylorMade TP5 Junior All-Star. With each tournament, Rasmussen continues to improve her game and show her true potential.

Ellie Hildreth 

Ellie Hildreth, from Wrightsville Beach, N.C., is an exceptional player in the 2025 graduating class. Currently ranked right behind Rasmussen at No. 3 in the PKBGT Performance Index, Hildreth has proven to be a strong player in all parts of her game. Some of her notable finishes include an eighth-place showing in The Lanto Junior Championship, a tie for 10th in the Scott Robertson Memorial and a tie for second in the Visit Goldsboro NC Junior Championship.

She has already proven to be successful at such a young age, but maybe the most impressive part of it all is how Hildreth handles herself out on the course. She is a hard worker who puts struggles behind her and is always focused on her next shot. Hildreth does not have any superstitions that help her prepare to play on the golf course, but she enjoys taking her time and listening to music to focus before her rounds.

Futures National Division

Allyson Bell

A native of Eight Mile, Ala., Allyson Bell will forever be tied to LPGA*USGA Girls Golf as the “Millionth Girl” in program history. Founded in 1989, Girls Golf officially surpassed the million-member mark in 2023 and decided to honor that milestone by selecting a girl fitting of the “Millionth Girl” moniker.

Of all the girls to choose from, Bell was a clear standout because of her passion for the sport and her contributions to her local community. As a Girls Golf eLeader, Bell spends the majority of her free time coaching the next generation of girl golfers to be better on and off the course.

These efforts have even caught the attention of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who had the chance to play with Bell in a pro-am fundraising tournament hosted by the Pebble Beach Company Foundation during the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. Bell hopes to follow in Rice’s footsteps by attending Stanford University.

Natalia Henderson

Natalia Henderson is from Southern Pines, N.C., and is a member of the 2029 graduation class. Henderson is currently ranked No. 1459 in the JGS Rankings.

Even though she has only been playing on the PKBGT for two years now, Henderson has made the most of her opportunities on the circuit. She earned two victories in 2023, and so far this year, she has finished tied for 10th in the PKGBT Open Championship @ CC of Salisbury & Sapona Club and tied for second in the Katherine Perry Hamski Girls Tradition (Carolinas LPGA Qualifier).

Mallory Pitts

Mallory Pitts is from Greensboro, N.C., and is a member of the 2028 graduation class.

Pitts is ranked No. 94 in the PKBGT Performance Index after a series of top-five finishes.

Pitts has been a consistent force on the PKBGT since 2021. In 2024 alone, Pitts has finished fourth in the Katherine Perry Hamski Girls Tradition, fourth in the PKBGT Regional Invitational, third in the Orange Whip Girls Classic, T3 in the North Carolina Series @ Sapona Golf Club, T2 in the Cape Fear Girls Classic, T2 in the PKGBT Masters and second in the North Carolina Open @ Forest Oaks. She recently capped off that streak with a win at the North Carolina Series @ Stoney Creek GC just a few weeks ago.

Lily Wachter

Hailing from St. Augustine, Fla., Lily Wachter has dominated competitions both regionally and nationally. Following in the footsteps of fellow Floridian and LPGA Tour player Alexa Pano, Wachter won the U.S. Kids World Championship in the Girls 8 Division in 2021.

Since that win, Wachter has traveled across the country playing in tournaments and events hosted by LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. Most notably, she had the opportunity to play in a pro-am fundraising tournament hosted by the Pebble Beach Company Foundation during the week of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. Wachter enters the National Championship week just a couple of months removed from winning the Girls 10-11 Division at the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals.

Discovery

Kay Cox

A Houston native, Kay Cox has been taking advantage of all the opportunities afforded by the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program. Most notably, Cox participated in The Chevron Championship’s Junior Legacy Pro-Am hosted by Amy Alcott in 2023 and 2024. This annual event pairs legends of the women’s game with the next generation of girl golfers. Cox also got the chance to play in the Pebble Beach Company Foundation’s All In at The Hay fundraising tournament in 2023.

Cox recently made her television debut thanks to an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show back in May. Hudson invited Cox onto the show after seeing a viral video of Cox making a hole-in-one, a rare feat for most adults.

For those who have had the chance to meet her, it’s clear just how seriously Cox takes the game of golf. She is constantly working on ways to improve, but more than that, she does it in a humble and respectful way, something Kay clearly learned from her loving and supportive parents.

Madelyn Dickerson

Madelyn Dickerson is already taking the golf world by storm after becoming the 2023 World Junior Champion. On top of that, Dickerson was a National Finalist in the 2024 Drive, Chip & Putt competition and was a top-three finisher in the 2024 Winter Nationals Junior Tour.

She is based out of Debary, Fla., and has a strong work ethic and dedication towards the sport. She treats every shot the same and knows that every swing matters, understanding that mistakes are what push her to become a stronger player.

A notable name who was also a World Junior Champion is Lexi Thompson, who won the 8 and under World Junior Championship in 2003. Thompson has gone on to have one of the most successful careers in recent memory on the LPGA Tour, with numerous wins under her belt and one LPGA major. Thompson’s journey certainly proves that hard work and dedication are keys to success, something that Dickerson hopes to emulate.

Madison Pyatt

At just nine years old, Madison Pyatt has already accomplished so much in her golfing career.

In fact, she joined a long list of champions at Augusta National Golf Club when she won the Girls 7-9 Division at the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals in April. She secured the win with scores of 10 on her Drive, 7.5 on her Chip and 8 on her Putt, for a total score of 25.5 points.

With a focus on the mental aspect of the game, Pyatt realizes that you won’t always succeed, but it’s important to keep trying to do your best in the moment. The Drive, Chip & Putt competition highlighted the strengths of her game. For example, her balance and technique allow her to hit long drives, while she is able to pinpoint close shots around the hole thanks to her chipping.

A member of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, Pyatt knows firsthand the impact this program can have, and that’s why she has made it a goal of hers to get more girls into the game. After winning the Drive, Chip & Putt national title, Pyatt had this to say: “I want to get more girls out there to try and do it because I love it, and I want other people to find it and love it too.”