JAGA announces 2026 scholarship recipients

The Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) officially announced and honored its 2026 class of 18 college scholarship recipients and four Northern Chapter PGA Level 2 awardees for 2026 at its annual scholarship awards dinner Tuesday, May 19, at Deerwood Country Club.

The JAGA Scholarship Trust recipients/awardees for 2026 are:

Scholarship Recipients

• Sophia Cavanagh — club: Palencia Club, high school: Nease HS, college: Flagler College, hometown: St. Augustine

• Alexander Clessuras — club: Sawgrass CC, high school: Ponte Vedra HS, college: U. of Florida, hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach

• Danielle Dailey — club: GC at South Hampton, high school: St. Joseph’s Academy, college: U. of Florida, hometown: St. Augustine

• Samantha Grippi — club: Deerwood CC, high school: Bishop Kenney HS, college: U. of Mississippi, hometown: Jacksonville

• Harrison Grunewald — club: Plantation at PVB, high school: Yulee HS, college: U. of Florida, hometown: Jacksonville

• Alyssa Hardy — club: Deercreek CC, high school: Stanton College Prep, college: Delaware State U., hometown: Jacksonville

• Cambree Hodge — club: Fleming Island GC, high school: Fleming Island HS, college: Jacksonville U., hometown: Fleming Island

• Katherine Libby — club: Hidden Hills GC, high school: Bolles School, college: Virginia Tech U., hometown: Jacksonville

• William Lyle — club: Moore Myers CF, high school: Paxson School, college: U. of Central Florida, hometown: Jacksonville

• Grace Martin — club: Jacksonville G&CC, high school: Atlantic Coast HS, college: U. of North Florida, hometown: Jacksonville

• Eva Meuse — club: Sawgrass CC, high school: Ponte Vedra HS, college: U. of North Florida, hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach

• Oliva Pia — club: Deerwood CC, high school: Bishop Kenney HS, college: U. of South Carolina-Aiken, hometown: Jacksonville

• Kalia Polete — club: Fleming Island GC, high school: Fleming Island HS, college: Flagler College, hometown: Fleming Island

• Andrew Sharkey — club: Timuquana CC, high school: Bolles School, college: Wake Forest U, hometown: Jacksonville

• Riley Spencer — club: St. Johns G&CC, high school: Bartram Trail HS, college: U. of South Florida, hometown: Saint Johns

• Brady Steffen — club: Amelia River Club, high school: Fernandina Beach HS, college: New College, hometown: Fernandina Beach

• Devin Thomassen — club: Jacksonville G&CC, high school: Bishop Kenney HS, college: U. of Alabama, hometown: Jacksonville

• Claire Worley — club: Timuquana CC, high school: Bolles School, college: U. of Florida, hometown: Jacksonville

This year’s student class represents 12 local high schools, has a 4.2 GPA, and will be attending 13 different institutions. The students had significant community service participation and held leadership positions with a variety of organizations.

PGA Associate / Level 2 Awardees

• Jarred Barsamian — club: Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, hometown: Ponte Vedra

• Jaxon Butler — club: Sawgrass CC, hometown: Ponte Vedra

• Jarrod Garcia — club: Fleming Island CC, hometown: Jacksonville

• Stephen Rodriguez — club: Sawgrass CC, hometown: Jacksonville

The four PGA Associates will receive $2,500 scholarships to help defray expenses related to earning their Level 2 certifications.

The following 2026 scholarship recipients received special recognition, presented by JAGA Scholarship Trust trustees:

• Furyk Scholar Award – presented to William David Lyle by Dr. Justine Redding of JAGA

• Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro-Am Award – presented to Harrison Grunewald by Ron Smith of JAGA

• Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro-Am Award – presented to Olivia Pia by Ron Smith of JAGA

• Billy Drake/Billy Walker Community Service Award – presented to Riley Spencer by John Tancredi of JAGA

• Kochera Award – presented to William David Lyle by John Tancredi of JAGA

Since the JAGA Scholarship Trust was formed in 1974, JAGA has awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships to more than 475 students.

The Trust is JAGA’s 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit entity that manages the scholarship program.

The evening’s featured speaker was Jacksonville University women’s head golf coach Kathryn Dougan. 2026 scholar Cambree Hodge and prior scholar recipient Emma Wells are about to complete their two years at Daytona State College and begin playing for Dougan and the JU Dolphins women’s team this fall.

On May 14, Hodge and Wells joined their teammates in celebrating Daytona State winning its 12 National Junior College Athletic Association national title. One of those teammates, Kalia Polete, is headed to Flagler College this fall along with Maria Cavanagh to play for head coach Santiago Cavanagh. The two young ladies are 2026 JAGA scholars.

Current trustees of the JAGA Trust are John Tancredi (Chairman/Marsh Landing CC), Joe Grippi (Vice Chairman/Deerwood CC), Ron Smith (Treasurer/The Plantation at PVB), Mike Charrie (Scholarship Golf Classic Chairman/Brentwood GC) and Peter Karpen (Scholarship Committee Chairman/Marsh Landing CC), and Trustees Susan Waite (Moore-Myers Children’s Fund), Dr. Justine Redding (Moore-Myers Children’s Fund) and Gee Sprague (Deerwood CC).

Applicants for scholarships must be sons, daughters or grandchildren of a member of a JAGA member club/organization or an employee of a member club who resides in JAGA’s Northeast Florida region. Applicants are sponsored and screened by JAGA directors.

JAGA scholarship recipients have gone on to successful careers as golf course superintendents, golf club managers, PGA Tour players, PGA golf professionals and other careers both inside and outside the golf industry.

Funds to support the Scholarship Trust are generated by JAGA member clubs and corporate/individual contributors to the scholarship fund.

Anyone interested in making contributions to the Scholarship Trust may do so by contacting Ron Smith (ronsmith1653@gmail.com) or clicking on either the link below:

https://jaxareagolf.org/scholarships/contribute-to-the-jaga-charitable-trust

JAGA welcomes all contributions and wishes to emphasize to donors that trustees of the fund are volunteers, as are all approximately 100 JAGA directors, and that all monies go directly to the trust, which makes a concerted effort to keep operational costs to a minimum.