FOR RELEASE: May 20, 2026
JACKSONVILLE AREA GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
JACKSONVILLE, FL – 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 evening, May 19th, at Deerwood Country Club.
The JAGA Scholarship Trust recipients/awardees for 2026 are:
JAGA Scholarship Recipients (18)
| Name | Club Affiliation | High School | College | Hometown |
| Sophia Cavanagh | Palencia Club | Nease HS | Flagler College | St. Augustine |
| Alexander Clessuras * | Sawgrass CC | Ponte Vedra HS | U. of Florida | Ponte Vedra Beach |
| Danielle Dailey | GC at South Hampton | St. Joseph’s Academy | U. of Florida | St. Augustine |
| Samantha Grippi | Deerwood CC | Bishop Kenney HS | U. of Mississippi | Jacksonville |
| Harrison Grunewald | Plantation at PVB | Yulee HS | U. of Florida | Jacksonville |
| Alyssa Hardy | Deercreek CC | Stanton College Prep | Delaware State U. | Jacksonville |
| Cambree Hodge * | Fleming Island GC | Fleming Island HS | Jacksonville U. | Fleming Island |
| Katherine Libby | Hidden Hills GC | Bolles School | Virginia Tech U. | Jacksonville |
| William Lyle | Moore Myers CF | Paxson School | U. of Central Florida | Jacksonville |
| Grace Martin * | Jacksonville G&CC | Atlantic Coast HS | U. of North Florida | Jacksonville |
| Eva Meuse * | Sawgrass CC | Ponte Vedra HS | U. of North Florida | Ponte Vedra Beach |
| Oliva Pia | Deerwood CC | Bishop Kenney HS | U. of South Carolina-Aiken | Jacksonville |
| Kalia Polete * | Fleming Island GC | Fleming Island HS | Flagler College | Fleming Island |
| Andrew Sharkey * | Timuquana CC | Bolles School | Wake Forest U. | Jacksonville |
| Riley Spencer | St. Johns G&CC | Bartram Trail HS | U. of South Florida | Saint Johns |
| Brady Steffen | Amelia River Club | Fernandina Beach HS | New College | Fernandina Beach |
| Devin Thomassen | Jacksonville G&CC | Bishop Kenney HS | U. of Alabama | Jacksonville |
| Claire Worley | Timuquana CC | Bolles School | U. of Florida | Jacksonville |
* Indicates currently a college student
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.
| 2026 JAGA Scholarship Class |
| Back row (left to right): Brady Steffen, Claire Worley, Devin Thomassen, Harrison Grunewald, Andrew Sharkey, Riley Spencer, Katherine Libby, William David Lyle, Alexander Clessuras
Front row (left to right): Alyssa Hardy, Olivia Pia, Samantha Grippi, Sophia Cavanagh, Grace Martin, Cambree Hodge, Danielle Dailey, Kalia Polete, Eva Meuse |
PGA Associate / Level 2 Awardees (4)
| Name | Club Affiliation | Hometown |
| Jarrod Barsamian | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra |
| Jaxon Butler | Sawgrass CC | Ponte Vedra |
| Jarred Garcia | Fleming Island CC | Jacksonville |
| Stephen Rodriguez | Sawgrass CC | Jacksonville |
Level 2 Associate PGA Professional awardees:
(L-R) Stephen Rodriguez, Jaxon Butler, Jarrod Barsamian, Jarred Garcia
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
Special Recognition Honorees:
Top (l-r) – Harrison Grunewald, William David Lyle
Seated: Olivia Pia, Riley Spencer
Since the JAGA Scholarship Trust was formed in 1974, JAGA has awarded over $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 14th, 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 Sophia Cavanagh to play for head coach Santiago Cavanagh. The two young ladies are 2026 JAGA scholars.
JAGA Scholarship Dinner keynote speaker Kathryn Dougan (center) with 2026 JAGA scholars and soon-to-be (this fall) Dolphin teammates Emma Wells (left) and Cambree Hodge (right).
Flagler men’s and women’s golf coach Santiago Cavanagh with incoming (fall, 2026) recruits, Sophia Cavanagh (left) and Kalia Polete (right)
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.
Entities and individuals who are interested in making contributions to the Scholarship Trust may do so by contacting Ron Smith (ronsmith1653@gmail.com) or clicking on either the link or QR code 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 100-plus JAGA directors, and that all monies go directly to the Trust, which has minimal operational expenses.
-JAGA-
Contact:
Peter Karpen
Scholarship Trustee & Scholarship Committee Chairman / JAGA Director, Marsh Landing CC
Cell: 413-429-1995
Email: pfkarpen@aol.com
Photo Credits: JAGA
ABOUT JAGA
Established in 1954, JAGA enters its 73rd year in 2026. It is a not-for-profit corporation consisting of 42-member golf facilities located in Northeast Florida. JAGA’s mission is to promote golf, community and goodwill through tournaments and related events and activities. It conducts or supports 11 tournaments, including six championship events and five others that feature team formats. JAGA has a charitable arm that manages a scholarship program which currently provides college funding for 62 area students. Since its inception in 1974, the Scholarship Trust has awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships to more than 475 students.
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